Black Rock, Bridgeport
Black Rock is a neighborhood in the southwestern section of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. It borders Fairfield and the Ash Creek tidal estuary on the west, the West Side/West End of Bridgeport on the north and east, and Black Rock Harbor and Long Island Sound on the south. Black Rock comprises census tracts 701 and 702 and part of census tract 703. It includes two historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Residences comprise 86% of properties in Black Rock, 10% are commercial, and 4% are industrial or other property classes. History . Black Rock was first settled in 1644 by a group of settlers led by Thomas Wheeler. The region was also inhabited by Native Americans, who relinquished their settlement in the area in 1681. During the early days of Black Rock, the area was also the community of Stratfield, which has also been absorbed into modern Bridgeport. Stratfield was originally known as Pequonnock and was located about midway between Black Rock and the original settlement of Bridgeport. The cemetery known as Stratfield Burying Place is located here and has many of Black Rock's early settlers interred there. Black Rock was  incorporated into Bridgeport in 1870. In the late 19th century and early 20th century wealthy merchants built homes in Black Rock in an array of different architectural styles, including Mediterranean Revival and Tudor Revival. One of these homes, with of land and 16 rooms ("The Chimneys"), is located on Old Battery Road. The S. S. Norden Club is a private club founded in 1902, the first of a number of private clubs in the neighborhood. A Carnegie Library was built in the neighborhood in 1932, which would later become the Black Rock Branch Library, a branch of the Bridgeport Public  Library system. Historic districts. There are two historic districts in the neighborhood that have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Black Rock Historic District was created on March 15, 1979, and comprises a number of houses and other structures from the mid 18th Century through the late 19th Century. The other historic district is the Black Rock Gardens Historic District, created on September 26, 1990. The district comprises 7 acres of emergency housing built for workers during World War I. Present-day. Black Rock maintains a leafy and seaside character which is typically viewed in stark  contrast to the more industrial and urban character of Bridgeport as a whole. Despite this, the area is more affordable compared to many of the surrounding towns, partially due to the association of the neighborhood with Bridgeport. The neighborhood maintains a diverse character, with sizable Irish, Mexican, Jamaican, and Indian communities. Many who move to the neighborhood are retirees, but the area is also home to a small but growing art scene. In July 2009, the Black Rock Branch Library, the area's library, expanded in size from 6,000 to 11,000 square feet, and was renovated to be outfitted with  wi-fi and public computers. On December 5, 2011, the Fairfield Metro station opened on, which eased the burden on Fairfield station, and made commuting via Metro-North easier for Black Rock residents. While the neighborhood is overwhelmingly residential, there is a significant commercial presence along Fairfield Avenue, the main thoroughfare, which connects Black Rock to Fairfield and downtown Bridgeport. Fairfield Avenue is in a state of transition with older businesses being replaced by upscale restaurants, cafes, espresso bars, gourmet ice cream shops, and art galleries. The neighborhood's residential areas lie on either side of Fairfield Avenue, with the  area of least density being a section called St. Mary's-by-the-Sea, which consists of Resident AA zoned properties (which require a minimum lot of 11,250 SF). Grovers Hill is the highest elevation in Black Rock and some of the most expensive properties in Black Rock are located on this hill with views of Long Island Sound. There are also direct waterfront properties, including two condominium complexes on the Sound and two on the Ash Creek tidal estuary. St. Mary's-by-the-Sea also has a public park along the Sound with half a mile of sidewalks and an  area for bird watching. Transportation. Fairfield Avenue is Black Rock's primary artery. Black Rock is also accessible from exit 25 on I-95 and from Route 1, both of which run just north of the area. Black Rock is served by the Fairfield Metro station on Metro-North's New Haven Line, located just across Ash Creek in neighboring Fairfield, which opened on December 5, 2011. Business Association. The Black Rock Business Association (BRBA), originated in 2005, is a group of Black Rock business owners who work together to promote Black Rock as a shopping, dining and entertainment district. The  Black Rock Business Association's activities include: Climate. Black Rock has an overall moderate climate, the average January temperature is around 23 degrees (F) and the average high in July is 82 degrees (F). Black Rock has in the past been hit with a number of large winter snow storms. Although the average snowfall is 29", the following is the list of top snow-accumulating winters (October 1 - April 30):