In the summer of 1920, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald rented a house on South Compo Road in Westport, Connecticut. Fitzgerald had just published This Side of Paradise and was still reveling in its huge success. He and his wife passed what many accounts call a “riotous” summer in Westport marked with many late night parties thrown by many of the Fitzgerald posse and drunken revelers crawling back to their homes in the wee hours of the morning. Since the twenties, Westport has evolved from a playground for the privileged (synonymous with the present-day Hamptons) to a haven for professionals trying a escape a hectic life.
Westport sits on the Connecticut coastline forty minutes from New York City. It, along with a handful of neighboring towns in Fairfield County, make up some of the most expensive and prime real estate in the country. On a scenic drive through town, one can pass anything from a quaint New England cape surrounded by trees to a beachside mansion situated right on the water. Westport has always prided itself in being able to preserve the tradition of a New England town, yet at the same time having a cosmopolitan outlook .
In recent years, with the influx of young professionals moving out of New York City and into the suburbs, it seems the age of the general population of Westport has gone down. On any given day, the streets are inundated with young mothers or nannies with baby strollers and a few toddlers in tow. The young population of Westport has risen dramatically. Estimates have been made indicating that whereas the graduating Staples High School class of 1998 was 230, the graduating class of those who were in kindergarten that year could easily reach 500.
In anticipation of the growing numbers, Westport has been putting much effort into expanding the public school system. A brand new middle school was just recently finished and opened this past year. The site of the old middle school is in the process of being transformed into an elementary school for a twelve million dollars. The old Greens Farms Elementary School has been reopened after a decade of housing the Westport Arts Center. Also, at least two existing schools are undergoing facelifts and expansions.
Residents unanimously agree that Westport is an ideal place to raise children. Safety, close knit communities, proximity to resources such as New York City along with one of the best public school systems in the state give reason for parents to flock to Westport with their children. However, there are also longtime older residents who have continued to stay in town for the resources that are available to them. Aside from the Senior Center, Westport is not short on things for older residents to enjoy such as the golf course at Longshore, light shopping on Main Street and even the saline air at Compo Beach.
Without a doubt, Westport is a predominantly white community. Out of its almost 25,000 residents, the 2000 census reported that there were a mere 292 black, 605 Hispanic and 625 Asian Westporters. These demographic numbers are made more evident when walking in and around town. Being overwhelmingly white, other racial or ethnic groups are hardly visible. However, it is worth noting that other minority groups have been growing in recent years at a steady rate.
Despite the changes that Westport is undergoing, not everyone agrees that they are all good changes. Part of what made Westport what it is were the locally owned “mom and pop” shops. They were owned by Westporters and often knew all their customers if not by name, then by face. Such stores breathed the life into areas such as downtown Main Street. The Remarkable Book Shop was once a landmark on Main Street. No one could miss the store that sat atop the street which was painted a bright pink. However, because of skyrocketing rent prices, the store was forced to close and made way for a Talbot’s. In a show of solidarity, the residents of Westport banded together to try to save the store, but to no avail. Talbot’s subsequently moved in and painted the building a boring gray color. Many other local shops have been forced to move over to allow upscale retail chains such as Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, J.Crew, Coach, and Pottery Barn to establish themselves.
The essence of a town is defined by the people who live
in it and the way they live their lives. Westport is a town which
prides itself in being family-oriented. It is a place where people
plan to raise their kids and even grow old. Not unlike many upper-class
suburbs, it has been slow in catching up with the demographic distribution
in America. Nevertheless, Westport is changing, evolving and diversifying.
Not only is this evident in the residents themselves, but also in the local
economy. Westport is not immune to the big corporate conglomerates.
Like everywhere else, they have seeped into the fabric of the town.
Many current residents do not mind this because they were not around twenty
years earlier when things were different. However, those who do remember
think back nostalgically, yet hasten to add that the spirit of Westport
has never swayed. Despite everything, it has always been and always
will be a town of New England traditions. It will also always embrace
the cosmopolitan outlook on the outside world.
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