Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Bridgeport, Connecticut
State Connecticut
City Bridgeport*
County1 Fairfield
City Population (2005)2 132,011 3.9 % of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) (Not Available)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 63 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Small
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium HIgh Density
State Capitol City Hartford
State Population (2005)2 3,394,751
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Michael Fabrizi
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.ci.bridgeport.ct.us/default.aspx
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 203-576-7201
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, November 6, 2007
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06 Yes
State Governor Name M. Jodi Rell
State/Governor Website http://www.ct.gov/
State/Governor Contact Information 800-406-1527
State/Governor Party Affiliation Republican
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.41    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 20.3%    
     Disability Status 25.6% 71  
     Emphysema 1.32% 62  
     Cardiovascular Disease 26.00% 61  
     Diabetes 5.53% 63  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.48% 14  
     Adult Asthma 9.94% 66  
     Adult Obesity 17.3%   4
     People Without Health Insurance 11.3%   10
     Age: Children under 5 years 8.2% 56  
     Age: 65 years and over 11.5% 49  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 34.0% 57  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 35.0% 2  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 42.7% 37  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 9.9% 54  
     Individuals Below Poverty 18.4% 41  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 24.8% 44  
     Free or Reduced Lunch (Not Available) (Not Available)  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 43.5% 62  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 1.9    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 22.4 (of 51) 23  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 54,440,451 pounds   32
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 19,079,081 pounds 19
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,519,270 pounds 20
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 205,844,293 pounds 21
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 123,445,578 pounds 16
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 10.6 grams 13
Number of Superfund Sites in County 2 sites 37  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 0.848 tons per person 11
Recycling Rate (1997) 23.0% 30
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 3,430,706 tons 19
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.0 tons/person 6
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 830,263 tons 27
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 24.2% 20
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 64.9% 1
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 17.9% 22
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 5.2% 16
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    2.5***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 10,800 tons   6
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 5,100 tons   5
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 7,827,900 tons   9
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 0.0 pounds   1
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 24.3 days 57  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 3.5 PM2.5 44  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 13.3 PM2.5 38  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 18.2 days 56  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 2.5 PM2.5 43  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 12.7 PM2.5 35  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 2 ppm 5  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 21 ug/m3 10  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.005 ppm 33  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    3.1***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Saugatuck ---  
# of Units in Watershed 95 units 17  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 95 units 12  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 76 units 53  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 80.0% 41  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 0.0% 1  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 41.66 inches 21  
Water Area Total, square miles 698 square miles 53  
Water Area Inland, square miles 161 square miles 68  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 538 square miles 12  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Hartford ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 44 years 54  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 128 days 11  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Hartford ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 42 years 56  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 49.0 inches 11  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 4,450,000,000 gallons/day 53  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 389,000,000 gallons/day 64  
Ground water, gallons/day 166,000,000 gallons/day 63  
Surface water, gallons/day 4,290,000,000 gallons/day 47  
Irrigation, gallons/day 28,000,000 gallons/day 58  
Public Supply, gallons/day 448,000,000 gallons/day 52  
Industrial, gallons/day 11,000,000 gallons/day 70  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 3,940,000,000 gallons/day 37  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 97,000,000 gallons/day 65  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Aquarian Water Co. of CT - Main System ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 341,421 people 54  
Year(s) Included in Summary (Not Available) ---  
Total Contaminants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Industrial Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water (Not Available) ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested (Not Available) (Not Available)  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 1 violation 35  
Health Violations 1 violation 54  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    3.1***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 8,720.9 people per square mile 11  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 3,398.1 housing units per square mile 12  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 25.0 minutes 46  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 25.0 minutes 55  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 18.7% 1  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 8.4% 22  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 3.8% 27  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 1.4% 70  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 112.1 57  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 87.3 MV registrations   34
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 38.1%   21
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 60.1 MV registrations   50
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.11 MV registrations   16
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 21,089 miles   8
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.989%   47
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 71.0%   5
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.01 miles   6
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 7.12 miles   6
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $1,743,000,000   28
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $82,650 per mile   46
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 51.2%   20
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 17.0 hours per person 18  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $291 per person 18  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $250,000,000 14  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 13 gallons per person 27  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $34,658 54  
Median Household Income (2000) $34,658 54  
Per capita income (2004) $16,306 66  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $16,306 63  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 16.2% 46  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 18.4% 43  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 18.4% 41  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 8.1% 63  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 24.8% 44  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 6,876 people 11  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 6.9% 57  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 9.9% 54  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 6.4% 66  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 10.5% 63  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 7.5% 18  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) -6.1% 14  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Higher Than Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $6.15 per hour 23  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 28,275 kids (0.8 % of total pop.) 62  
Largest School District Enrollment 22,432 kids (0.7 % of total pop.) 62  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 57.3% 33  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 65.0% 71  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 12.2% 70  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 34% 57  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Middle of the Road   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade B   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 50,307 units 62  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 56.8% 11  
Cost of Living: Housing 121.5 48  
Cost of Living: Utilities 144.8 68  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 122.2 70  
Cost of Living: Overall 125.4 57  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 65.21%   17
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 44.20%   37
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 58.00%   30
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 30.5%   23
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 5,450.7 incidents per 100,000 people 22  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 1,010.1 incidents per 100,000 people 45  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 4,440.6 incidents per 100,000 people 18  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 5,525.4 incidents per 100,000 people 19  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score)    5.0***    
Average # of Parks, per square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Parkland as % of City Area (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Total City Tree Canopy % 4.3% 49  
Total City Urbanized Area % 86.8% 64  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users (Not Available) ---  
Disability Advisory Committees (Not Available) ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks (Not Available) ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 2.8    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.48% 14
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 9.94% 66
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.19% 55
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.32% 62
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 26.00% 61
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.53% 63  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 17.3% 4
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 6.4% 4
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) <10% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 15%-19% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 7.0% 2
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 6.5% 21
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 186.0 14
Cost of Living: Health 154.5 67  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 10.8% 10
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 11.3% 10
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 4.6% 41
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.4% 36
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 15 farms 17
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 29 markets 12
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 2 restaurants 19
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 1 grocery store 40
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 2 other sources 36
Cost of Living: Food 127.2 71
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 56.5% 11
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 36.3% 18
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score) 2.6    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) Yes ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 0 programs   32
Net Metering Net Metering Offered by only one or more Individual Utilities   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 100 kW   6
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 100 kW   9
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries Yes   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds Funds Support Energy Effeciency & Renewable Energy   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 10%   12
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards 2010   4
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol None   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes with ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes 1999 ASHRAE or Later (ECPA Compliant)   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) Yes ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 7.2%   17
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 41 years 52
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 52% 48
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8.4 mph 40
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9 mph 40
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 7.3 mph 44
Heating Degree Days 6,151 days 45
Cooling Degree Days 677 days 16
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 39 years 15
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 77% 16
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 52% 12
Elevation, feet 3 feet 2
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 132,011 63 (of 72 in EDN study) 3.9% of state population
City Population (2000) 139,529 62 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 3,394,751 29 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region New England ---  
EPA Region 1 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 16.0 square miles 70 0.4% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 4,845 square miles 48  
Watershed Name Saugatuck ---  
Elevation, feet 3 ft. (0.9 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 29.9 °F (-1.2°C) 49
Average Daily Temperature - July 74.0 °F (23.3°C) 27  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 31.4 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 71.6% 56  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 11.5% 23  
Under 5 years of age 11,397 kids (8.2% of total pop.) 62  
One Race-White % (2005) 44.5% 55  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 55.5% 18  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 32.4% 16  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 43.5% 11  
Largest School District Name Bridgeport School District ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network