Fairfield is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

Fairfield County, Connecticut Fairfield County is a County (United States), county in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is the List of counties in Connecticut, most populous county in the state and was also its fastest-growing from 2010 to 2020. ...

, United States. It borders the city of

Bridgeport Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut and the fifth-most populous city in New England, with a population of 148,654 in 2020. Located in eastern Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequonnock River on Long Is ...

and towns of Trumbull, Easton,

Weston Weston may refer to: Places Australia * Weston, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra * Weston, New South Wales * Weston Creek, a residential district of Canberra * Weston Park, Canberra, a park Canada * Weston, Nova Scotia * W ...

, and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of 2020, the town had a population of 61,512. The town is part of the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region. Fairfield is a hub of higher education, enrolling more than 17,000 students between Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University.

History

Colonial era

In 1635,

Puritan The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to rid the Church of England of what they considered to be Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should b ...

s and

Congregationalists Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice congregational government. Each congregation independently a ...

in the

Massachusetts Bay Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around Massachusetts Bay, one of the several colonies later reorganized as the Province of M ...

, were dissatisfied with the rate of

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

reform, and sought to establish an ecclesiastical society subject to their own rules and regulations. The Massachusetts General Court granted them permission to settle in the towns of Windsor, Wethersfield, and

Hartford Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...

which are now within a state known as

Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...

. On January 14, 1639, a set of legal and administrative regulations called the Fundamental Orders was adopted and established Connecticut as a self-ruling entity. By 1639, these settlers had started new towns in the surrounding areas. Roger Ludlowe, framer of the Fundamental Orders, purchased the land called Unquowa (presently called Fairfield), and established the name. The name "Fairfield" is commendatory. According to historian John M. Taylor:

Towns created from Fairfield

Fairfield was one of the two principal settlements of the

Connecticut Colony The Connecticut Colony, originally known as the Connecticut River Colony, was an English colony in New England which later became the state of Connecticut. It was organized on March 3, 1636, as a settlement for a Puritans, Puritan congregation o ...

in southwestern Connecticut (the other was Stratford). The town line with Stratford was set in May 1661 by John Banks, an early Fairfield settler, Richard Olmstead, and Lt. Joseph Judson, who were both appointed as a committee by the Colony of Connecticut. The town line with Norwalk was not set until May 1685. Over time, several new towns broke off and incorporated separately. The following is a list of towns created from parts of Fairfield. * Redding in 1767 *

in 1787 * Easton, created from Weston in 1845 *

in 1821 (also partly from Stratford) and again in 1870 when the Black Rock section left Fairfield * Westport in 1835 (partly from Weston and Norwalk)

Revolutionary War

When the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

began in the 1770s, Fairfielders were caught in the crisis as much as, if not more than, the rest of their neighbors in Connecticut. In a predominantly

Tory A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...

section of the colony, the people of Fairfield were early supporters of the cause for independence. Throughout the war, a constant battle was being fought across the

Long Island Sound Long Island Sound is a sound (geography), marine sound and tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. It lies predominantly between the U.S. state of Connecticut to the north and Long Island in New York (state), New York to the south. From west to east, ...

as Loyalists from

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

-controlled

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...

raided the coast in

whaleboat A whaleboat is a type of open boat that was used for catching whales, or a boat of similar design that retained the name when used for a different purpose. Some whaleboats were used from whaling ships. Other whaleboats would operate from the s ...

s and

privateer A privateer is a private person or vessel which engages in commerce raiding under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign o ...

s. Gold Selleck Silliman, whose home still stands on Jennings Road, was put in charge of the coastal defenses. In the spring of 1779, Silliman was kidnapped from his home by

Loyalist Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cr ...

raiders in preparation for a British raid on Fairfield County. His wife, Mary Silliman watched from their home as, on the morning of July 7, 1779, approximately 2,000 British troops landed on Fairfield Beach near Pine Creek Point; the force proceeded to burn Fairfield due to the town's support for Patriot cause. A decade later, President

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

noted that after traveling through Fairfield that "the destructive evidence of British cruelty are icyet visible both in Norwalk and Fairfield; as there are the chimneys of many burnt houses standing in them yet".

Twentieth century

The

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

brought Fairfield out of its agrarian past by triggering an unprecedented economic boom in Bridgeport, which was the center of a large

munition Ammunition, also known as ammo, is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. The term includes both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines), and the component parts of oth ...

s industry at the time. The prosperity accompanied a temporary housing shortage in the city, and many of the workers looked to Fairfield to build their homes. The trolley and later the automobile made the countryside accessible to these newly rich members of the middle class, who brought with them new habits, new attitudes, and new modes of dress. The prosperity lasted throughout the twenties. By the time of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the population had increased to 17,000 from the 6,000 it had been just before the war. Even during the Depression, the town kept expanding. The grounding of a barge with two crewmen on Penfield Reef in Fairfield during a gale led to the 1st civilian helicopter hoist rescue in history, on November 29, 1945. The helicopter flew from the nearby

Sikorsky Aircraft Sikorsky Aircraft is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut. It was established by the Russian-American aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky in 1923, and was among the first companies to manufacture helicopters for civilian ...

plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The opening of the Connecticut Turnpike in the 1950s brought another wave of development to Fairfield, and by the 1960s the town's residential, suburban character was firmly established. Fairfield became the home of the corporate headquarters of

General Electric General Electric Company (GE) was an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1892, incorporated in the New York (state), state of New York and headquartered in Boston. Over the year ...

(GE), one of the world's largest companies, ca. 1970. On May 8, 2017, GE relocated to Boston, Massachusetts. File:Fairfield Beach Postcard 1932.jpg, Postcard from 1932 showing bathers at Fairfield Beach File:Tide Mill Tavern Fairfield Connecticut Postcard.jpg, Historical Postcard of the Tide Mill Tavern,

Southport Southport is a seaside resort, seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It lies on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, West Lancashire coastal plain and the east coast of the Irish Sea, approximately north of ...

File:Burr Homestead.jpg, Fairfield's Burr Homestead in a 1938 photo File:Pequot Library.jpg, Pequot Library in

, 1966 File:Southport Congregational Church, 1966.jpg, Southport Congregational Church, 1966 File:Fairfield Connecticut Town Green Woodcut c1840.jpg, Historical Woodcut from Showing Old Town Hall and Town Green File:Trinity Church Southport Connecticut.jpg, Trinity Church in Southport, 1966 File:Penfield Reef Light.jpg, Penfield Reef Lighthouse is located in Long Island Sound off the coast of Fairfield Beach File:Bellarmine Hall (three-quarter view) - Jan 2011.JPG, Bellarmine Hall at Fairfield University File:1812 Sycamore, Fairfield, CT - October 22, 2012.jpg, The "1812 Sycamore" near Town Hall (cut down in 2013) File:Pequot Library 1894 historic building.jpg, Historic Pequot Library, founded in 1887,

Geography

The town is on the shore of the

. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 4.15%, is water.

Waterways

Rivers flowing through Fairfield include Mill River,

Rooster River Rooster River is a river in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Fairfield County, Connecticut that lies on and serves as the border between Bridgeport, Connecticut, Bridgeport and Fairfield, Connecticut, Fairfield.

, Ash Creek, Sasco Brook, and Aspetuck River.

Neighborhoods

Fairfield consists of many neighborhoods. The best known are wealthy

, where General Electric Chief Executive Officer

Jack Welch John Francis Welch Jr. (November 19, 1935 – March 1, 2020) was an American business executive, chemical engineer, and writer. He was Chairman and CEO of General Electric (GE) between 1981 and 2001. His long career at General Electric ( ...

lived for many years, and

Greenfield Hill Greenfield Hill is an affluent historic neighborhood in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States, roughly bounded by Easton to the north, southern Burr Street/northern Black Rock Turnpike to the east, and Southport and Westport to the south and west ...

, with its large green areas, famous dogwood trees, and picturesque green with its white-spired Congregational church. Other neighborhoods include Stratfield, Tunxis Hill, the University area, Grasmere, Mill Plain, Knapp's Village, Melville Village, Holland Hill, Murray, and the Fairfield Beach area, which has recently undergone a renaissance with the construction of many new homes by residents wishing to live in proximity to the beach and downtown.Prevost, Lisa (July 3, 2005). "Living in/The Fairfield, Conn., Beach Area; A Beach Community in an Awkward Transition", ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

''. This has resulted in steadily rising property prices. Two shopping districts in town include the Post Road ( U.S. 1) and Black Rock Turnpike. * Fairfield Center/Downtown Fairfield * Fairfield Beach * Fairfield Woods * Grasmere *

* Lake Hills * Mill Plain * Murray * Sasco Hill and Beach *

* Stratfield Village * Tunxis Hill

Demographics

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 59,404 people in the town, organized into 20,457 households and 14,846 families. The population density was . There were 21,648 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 91.6%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 3.7% Asian, 1.8%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.06% Native American, 0.01%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 1.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 5.0% of the population were

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race. There were 20,457 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.19. In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males. The median household income (in 2013 dollars) was $117,705 (these figures had risen to $103,352 and $121,749 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $69,525 versus $44,837 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $55,733. 2.9% of the population and 1.8% of families were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

. Out of the total population, 2.8% of those under the age of 18 and 3.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government and politics

Economy

In May 2012,

Moody's Investors Service Moody's Ratings, previously and still legally known as Moody's Investors Service and often referred to as Moody's, is the bond credit rating business of Moody's Corporation, representing the company's traditional line of business and its histo ...

revised the Town of Fairfield's $192 million

general obligation bond A general obligation bond is a common type of municipal bond in the United States that is secured by a state or local government's pledge to use legally-available resources, including tax revenues, to repay bondholders. Most general obligation pl ...

debt from negative to stable. In June 2012, Moody's awarded Fairfield with a Moody's Aaa Bond rating, which it maintains to this date.

Taxes

In 2005, the

mill rate A property tax (whose rate is expressed as a percentage or per mille, also called ''millage'') is an ad valorem tax on the value of a property.In the OECD classification scheme, tax on property includes "taxes on immovable property or net we ...

of Fairfield was 16.67. The 2012–2013 taxes in Fairfield rose 4% to a mill rate of 23.37. The 2013–2014 mill rate which went into effect on July 1 for fiscal year 2013–2014 also increased by 2.38% to 23.93.

Large and distinctive companies

* R.C. Bigelow ( Bigelow Tea Company) – headquarters, Black Rock Turnpike * Sturm, Ruger & Co. – headquarters, Lacey Place in Southport, firearms manufacturer * Fairfield University – 1073 North Benson Road (5000 students and more than 500 academic employees plus additional administrators and staff) * Sacred Heart University – New England's second largest

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

university

Points of interest

Fairfield Beach Connecticut Postcard c 1921

Historic sites

* Connecticut Audubon Society Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary – 314 Unquowa Road (added 1982) * Bronson Windmill – 3015 Bronson Road (added 1971) * David Ogden House – 1520 Bronson Road (added 1979) * Fairfield Historic District – Old Post Road from Post Road to Turney Road (added 1971). This is the old town center of Fairfield, roughly along Old Post Road between U.S. Route 1 and Turney Road. The area contains Fairfield's town hall, public library, and houses dating from the late 18th century. * Fairfield Railroad Stations – Carter Henry Drive (added 1989) * Greenfield Hill Historic District – Roughly bounded by Meeting House Lane, Hillside Road, Verna Hill Road and Bronson Road (added 1971) * John Osborne House – 909 King's Highway West (added 1987) * Jonathan Sturges House – 449 Mill Plain Road (added 1984) * Pequot Library – 720 Pequot Ave (added 1971) * Pine Creek Park Bridge – North of Old Dam Road, over Pine Circle (added 1992) * Southport Historic District – Roughly bounded by Southport Harbor, railroad tracks, Old South Road, and Rose Hill Road (added 1971) * Southport Railroad Stations – 96 Station St. and 100 Center St. (added 1989)

Arts, entertainment, and sports

* The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on the campus of Fairfield University opened in 1990. Its schedule of events includes popular and classical music, dance, theatre, programs for young audiences, and the Open VISIONS Forum lecture series which feature opinion-makers, artists, authors, political commentators, and contributors to the humanities and sciences. The Quick Center houses the 740-seat Kelley Theatre, the 150-seat Lawrence A. Wien Experimental Theatre, and the Thomas J. Walsh Jr. Art Gallery. The Quick Center has become known as one of the finest concert halls in the country and was recognized as the "cultural epicenter of Fairfield County" by ''Westport Magazine''. * The PepsiCo Theatre, a renovated 1922 carriage house on the campus of Fairfield University, is the home to the theatre program of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and Theater Fairfield, the resident production company of the university. The PepsiCo Theatre also hosts experimental productions by students, faculty and local professionals. * The Bellarmine Museum of Art on the campus of Fairfield University hosts shows by regional artists and touring exhibitions as well as a permanent collection. * The

Community Theatre Community theatre refers to any Theatre, theatrical performance made in relation to particular Community, communities—its usage includes theatre made by, with, and for a community. It may refer to a production that is made entirely by a communit ...

in downtown Fairfield was acquired, renovated, and reopened by Sacred Heart University in 2019. Originally built in 1920 as a

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

venue, it is Fairfield's oldest and last remaining cinema. * The Fairfield Theater Company operates an auditorium located near the downtown Fairfield train station. * The Gazebo on Sherman Town Green is home to free concerts during the summer in the afternoon hours. * Pequot Library, known for programming and rare books * WSHU-FM Public Radio, operated by Sacred Heart University * WVOF, student-run radio at Fairfield University * Fairfield University hosts collegiate athletic competitions open to the public including basketball, baseball, cross-country, field hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.

Parks and recreation

Fairfield residents enjoy a wealth of recreational opportunities, many of which stem from Fairfield's enviable location on the Long Island Sound. * The town's of Long Island Sound coastline include five town beaches which are staffed by lifeguards during the summer, and miles of privately owned beach which are open to the public below the high tide mark. * South Benson Marina is a town-owned facility providing 600 boat slips which residents can rent for the summer. * Lake Mohegan, which includes waterfalls called The Cascades, is a popular destination for hiking, as are the Fairfield Audubon Society and the Bird Sanctuary. * Ye Yacht Yard, a town-owned facility on Southport Harbor, provides boat launch services to residents, and access to moorings in Southport Harbor. Ye Yacht Yard is also the location of Community Sailing of Fairfield, whose members share use of two 18-foot sailboats. * The "SportsPlex" is located in downtown Fairfield and offers athletic activities such as

ice skating Ice skating is the Human-powered transport, self-propulsion and gliding of a person across an ice surface, using metal-bladed ice skates. People skate for various reasons, including recreation (fun), exercise, competitive sports, and commuting. ...

indoor climbing A climbing wall is an artificially constructed wall with manufactured grips (or "holds") for the hands and feet. Most walls are located indoors, and climbing on such walls is often termed indoor climbing. Some walls are brick or wooden constr ...

indoor soccer Indoor soccer or arena soccer is a form of five-a-side football, five-a-side or six-a-side version of minifootball. It is derived from association football and adapted to be played in walled hardcourt indoor arenas. It differs from the FIFA, FIFA ...

and

gymnastics Gymnastics is a group of sport that includes physical exercises requiring Balance (ability), balance, Strength training, strength, Flexibility (anatomy), flexibility, agility, Motor coordination, coordination, artistry and endurance. The movem ...

Other points of interest

* Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield (separate from the Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary) – of boardwalk nature trails in a wildlife sanctuary of with a nature center * Fairfield Museum and History Center – displays on local history, art and decorative arts, and a library on local history * Gallery of Contemporary Art at Sacred Heart University – holds five exhibitions each year * Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University * Pequot Library-- exhibitions on local history, rare books, in a landmark building

Government

The town government consists of the three-member Board of Selectmen, a

Representative Town Meeting A representative town meeting, also called "limited town meeting", is a form of municipal legislature particularly common in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and permitted in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Representative town meetings function ...

(RTM), a Board of Finance, a Board of Education, a Town Planning and Zoning Commission (TPZ), and many other politically appointed commissions, boards, and committees. The current First Selectman is Bill Gerber ( D).

Makeup of notable governmental bodies

''As of November 27, 2023''

Board of Selectmen

'' Democrat controlled 2–1''

Representative Town Meeting

'' Democratic Supermajority 31–9''

Board of Finance

'' Democrat Controlled 5–4'' *Special Election held in 2021 to replace the seat left vacant by Ed Bateson on 5/17/21

Board of education

'' Democrat Controlled 5–4'' The town has no criminal or civil court system, and all trials are handled by the

Superior Court system. However, the town does also offer access to a Juvenile Review Board (JRB) for certain juvenile cases outlined by the Fairfield Police Department. Fairfield is represented in the Connecticut General Assembly by one Republican, Sen. Tony Hwang, and three Democrats, Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, Rep. Jennifer Leeper, and Rep. Sarah Keitt.

Emergency services

Police Department

The Fairfield Police Department was created in 1926, approximately 287 years after the town was founded.

Fire Department

The town of Fairfield is protected by the 95 career firefighters of the Fairfield Fire Department (FFD), and volunteer firefighters of the Southport Volunteer Fire Department and Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department. The career Fairfield Fire Department operates five fire stations, located throughout the town, and uses a fire apparatus fleet of five engine companies, one ladder company, one rescue company, three fireboats, and 1 Shift Commander's Unit, as well as many special support, and reserve units. The Southport Volunteer Fire Department has served the community since 1895. The Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department has several stations and has served the community since 1920.

Education

Fairfield has two public high schools, Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe; three public middle schools, Roger Ludlowe, Tomlinson, and Fairfield Woods Middle School; and eleven public elementary schools. Fairfield has several Catholic schools, including two high schools, Fairfield Prep and Notre Dame, and two primary schools, St. Thomas Aquinas and Our Lady of the Assumption. A third Catholic primary school, Holy Family, was closed by the Diocese of Bridgeport at the end of the 2009–2010 academic year. Non-religious private schools include Fairfield Country Day School and the Unquowa School. Fairfield is also home to two post-secondary institutions, Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University.

Media

* ''

Connecticut Post The ''Connecticut Post'' is a daily newspaper located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It serves Fairfield County and the Lower Naugatuck Valley. Municipalities in the Post's circulation area include Ansonia, Bridgeport, Darien, Derby, Easton ...

'' (headquartered in neighboring

) * '' Fairfield Minuteman'' * ''CT Insider - Fairfield Citizen News'' * ''HamletHub Fairfield'' * ''Fairfield Magazine'' * ''Fairfield County Catholic'' * WSHU-FM * WVOF

Transportation

Fairfield is traversed by U.S. 1,

Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, north to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the ...

, and the Merritt Parkway. It has three

Metro-North Railroad The Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company , also branded as MTA Metro-North Railroad and commonly called simply Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), a New York State publ ...

stations, Fairfield–Black Rock, Fairfield and

. The town is served by several public bus lines of the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority.

Places of worship

* St. Anthony of Padua Church * Trinity

Baptist Church Baptists are a denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers ( believer's baptism) and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches generally subscribe to the doctrines of ...

* Greenfield Hill Congregational Church –

Congregational Church Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice congregational government. Each congregation independently a ...

* First Church

Congregational Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christianity, Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice Congregationalist polity, congregational ...

– UCC * Southport Congregational Church * St. Paul's Episcopal Church –

Episcopal Church (United States) The Episcopal Church (TEC), also known as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America (PECUSA), is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, based in the United States. It is a mainline Protestant denomination and is ...

* St. Timothy's Episcopal Church –

* Trinity Episcopal Church –

* Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church –

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant Christian denomination, denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was ...

* Black Rock Congregational Church –

non-denominational A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination. The term has been used in the context of various faiths, including Jainism, Baháʼí Faith, Zoro ...

evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...

* Our Saviour's Lutheran Church –

Lutheran Church Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched the Reformation in 15 ...

(ELCA) * First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield –

Presbyterian Church Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Christianity, Reformed Protestantism, Protestant tradition named for its form of ecclesiastical polity, church government by representative assemblies of Presbyterian polity#Elder, elders, known as ...

* Holy Cross

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

* Our Lady of the Assumption * St. Pius X Church * St. Thomas

* Chabad of Fairfield * Congregation Beth El

Notable people

* William Burnett Benton (1900–1973), former U.S. senator *

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; born Louis Bernstein; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was th ...

(1918–1990), conductor, composer, musician * James Blake (born 1979), professional tennis player *

Julius Boros Julius Nicolas Boros (March 3, 1920 – May 28, 1994) was an American professional golfer noted for his effortless-looking swing and strong record on difficult golf courses, particularly at the U.S. Open. Early life and amateur career Born in ...

(1920–1994), professional golfer, winner of 18 PGA tour events including the 1952 and 1963 U.S. Open and 1968

PGA Championship The PGA Championship (often referred to as the US PGA Championship or USPGA outside the United States) is an annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. The PGA is one of the four men's major golf champi ...

* Aaron Burr Sr. (1716–1757), native, clergyman, educator, and father of Vice President

Aaron Burr Aaron Burr Jr. (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician, businessman, lawyer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805 d ...

* John Byrne (born 1950) comic book artist and author * Ann Shaw Carter (1922–2005) first woman to be a commercial helicopter pilot * Kenton Clarke (born 1951), CEO, trumpet player, Buglers Hall of Fame and Drum Corps Hall of Fame * Susan Cooper (born 1935) author of children's sequence '' The Dark Is Rising'' * Hume Cronyn (1911–2003), actor, '' Lifeboat'', '' Cocoon'' * Michael J. Daly (1924–2008), World War II Medal of Honor recipient * T. F. Gilroy Daly, attorney and federal judge, born in Fairfield * C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of US Treasury, ambassador to France, lived in Fairfield * David L. Downie, author and professor of politics and environment policy at Fairfield University * Keir Dullea, actor, '' 2001: A Space Odyssey'' * Dick Durrell (1925–2008), founder of ''

People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...

'' magazine, adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University * Timothy Dwight IV (1752–1817), Congregationalist minister, author, president of Yale College; pastor for 12 years at Greenfield Hill Church * Margaret Morrison, granddaughter of

Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie ( , ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the History of the iron and steel industry in the United States, American steel industry in the late ...

* Tatiana Foroud, internationally recognized genetic researcher *

Chris Frantz Charton Christopher Frantz (born May 8, 1951) is an American musician and record producer. He is the drummer for both Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, both of which he co-founded with wife and Talking Heads bassist, Tina Weymouth. In 2002, Frant ...

and

Tina Weymouth Martina Michèle Weymouth ( ; born November 22, 1950) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and a founding member and bassist of the new wave group Talking Heads and its side project Tom Tom Club, which she co-founded with her husband, ...

, founding members of

Talking Heads Talking Heads were an American Rock music, rock band formed in New York City in 1975.Talking Heads

and Tom Tom Club *

Robert Greenberger Robert Greenberger (born July 24, 1958) is an American writer and editor known for his work on ''Comics Scene'', ''Starlog'', ''Weekly World News'', the novelization of the film ''Hellboy II: The Golden Army#Novelization, Hellboy II'', and for ...

(born 1958), writer, editor and Fairfield politician * J. J. Henry, PGA golfer, 2006 Ryder Cup team member * Paul Hogan, aka "Crocodile Dundee", actor, lived many years in Fairfield with wife Linda Kozlowski *

Don Imus John Donald Imus Jr. ( ; July 23, 1940 – December 27, 2019), also known as Imus, was an American radio personality, television show host, recording artist, and author. His radio show '' Imus in the Morning'' was aired on various stations and di ...

, radio personality, past resident in Southport * Eliot A. Jardines, Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for

Open source intelligence Open source intelligence (OSINT) is the collection and analysis of data gathered from open sources (overt sources and publicly available information) to produce actionable intelligence. OSINT is primarily used in national security, law enforceme ...

* Oliver Burr Jennings, Exxon (Standard Oil) founder * Pat Jordan, sportswriter and acclaimed author of ''A False Spring'', ranked #37 on ''

Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with a circulation of over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellen ...

'' Top 100 Sports Books of All Time * Linda Kozlowski, actress, born in Fairfield * David LaChapelle, born in Fairfield, photographer and director * Jonathan Lewis, biomedical researcher, cancer drug developer * Justin Long, actor, '' Jeepers Creepers'', '' Ed'' * Roger Ludlow, town founder * Pauline Bradford Mackie (1873–1956), writer of historical fiction * Florence Lewis May, art historian *

John Mayer John Clayton Mayer ( ; born October 16, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, but he left for Atlanta in 1997 with fellow guitarist Clay Cook, with whom he formed the short-liv ...

, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist * Bradley B. Meeker, Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court justice * Brian Monahan, US Navy rear admiral and Attending Physician of the United States Congress * Matt Morgan, professional wrestler, American Gladiator and actor *

Anne M. Mulcahy Anne M. Mulcahy (born October 21, 1952) is the former chairperson and CEO of Xerox Corporation. She was named CEO of Xerox on August 1, 2001, and chairwoman on January 1, 2002. In addition to serving on the Xerox board, she has been a member of th ...

, chairman, Xerox Corporation * Charles Nagy, former

MLB Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

pitcher for

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

Joe Namath Joseph William Namath (; ; born May 31, 1943), nicknamed "Broadway Joe", is an American former professional American football, football quarterback who played in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for 13 seaso ...

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

quarterback, Hall of Famer, past resident * Henry Fairfield Osborn, (1857–1935) geologist, paleontologist, eugenicist * Dan Remmes, actor/writer, book writer of Grumpy Old Men: The Musical *

Jason Robards Jason Nelson Robards Jr. (July 26, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was an American actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he gained a reputation as an interpreter of the works of playwright Eugene O'Neill. Robards received numerous accola ...

, actor, lived in Southport *

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway theatre, Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers wa ...

, composer of more than 900 songs and 43 Broadway musicals, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart * Philip Rubin, CEO emeritus of Haskins Laboratories and a former

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...

science adviser * Meg Ryan, actress, ''

Sleepless in Seattle ''Sleepless in Seattle'' is a 1993 American romantic comedy film directed by Nora Ephron, from a screenplay she wrote with David S. Ward and Jeff Arch. Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, the film follows a journalist (Ryan) who becomes enamored ...

'', '' When Harry Met Sally...'', born in Fairfield * Chris Sarandon and Joanna Gleason, actors * Gold Selleck Silliman, Revolutionary War general * Samuel Smedley, privateer in Revolutionary War * Howard Sosin, founder of AIG Financial Products, presently investor * Jonathan Sturges, delegate to the

Continental Congress The Continental Congress was a series of legislature, legislative bodies, with some executive function, for the Thirteen Colonies of British America, Great Britain in North America, and the newly declared United States before, during, and after ...

and member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

Gene Tierney Gene Eliza Tierney (November 19, 1920November 6, 1991) was an American stage and film actress. Acclaimed for her great beauty, Tierney was a prominent Leading actor, leading lady during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. Sh ...

, actress, '' Laura'', ''

Leave Her to Heaven ''Leave Her to Heaven'' is a 1945 American film directed by John M. Stahl, starring Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, and Vincent Price. Adapted by screenwriter Jo Swerling from the 1944 novel of the same name by Ben Ames Williams, the ...

''; attended Unquowa School in Fairfield * Lee Tilghman, former wellness influencer * Brian Torff, jazz musician, composer, head of Fairfield University music program *

Raviv Ullman Raviv Chanan "Ricky" Ullman (; born 24 January 1986) is an Israeli Americans, Israeli-American actor, director, and musician. He is best known for playing Phil Diffy, the main character in the Disney Channel series ''Phil of the Future''. Early ...

, star of ''

Phil of the Future ''Phil of the Future'' is an American science fiction comedy television series that originally aired on Disney Channel for two seasons from June 18, 2004, to August 19, 2006. It was created by Douglas Tuber and Tim Maile and produced by 2121 Pr ...

'' * Franco Ventriglia, opera singer, Fairfield native * Jeffrey P. von Arx, president of Fairfield University *

Robert Penn Warren Robert Penn Warren (April 24, 1905 – September 15, 1989) was an American poet, novelist, literary critic and professor at Yale University. He was one of the founders of New Criticism. He was also a charter member of the Fellowship of Southern ...

, author and poet * Robert Waterman, clipper ship captain who sailed to California and named

Fairfield, California Fairfield is a city in and the county seat of Solano County, California, United States, in the North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area), North Bay sub-region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The city has a diversified economy, with government, manufac ...

after this city * Michael Weatherly, actor, plays Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo in series '' NCIS'' *

, former CEO of General Electric, former town resident * Bob Wright, chairman of NBC for 20 years *

Mabel Osgood Wright Mabel Osgood Wright (January 26, 1859 – July 16, 1934) was an American writer and conservationist. She was an early leader in the Audubon movement who wrote extensively about nature and birds. Early years and education Mabel Osgood was the dau ...

, author and founder of Connecticut Audubon Society (Birdcraft Museum in Fairfield) * Julie Benko, actress; attended Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield

References

External links

* {{authority control Towns in Fairfield County, Connecticut Populated places established in 1639 Towns in the New York metropolitan area Towns in Connecticut Populated coastal places in Connecticut 1639 establishments in Connecticut Towns in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut