History of Westport

Westport’s story begins long before the Declaration of Independence, on beautiful land stewarded by the Paugussett whose communities flourished along the rich tidal coast. Colonial roots took hold at Greens Farms in the 1600s with the Bankside Farmers, and the Saugatuck River carried the settlement from a subsistence hamlet to a busy port. British raids early on touched its shores, but due to the bravery of the local militia, the town incorporated from parts of Fairfield, Weston, and Norwalk in 1835. In the decades that followed, Westport evolved from farming to coastal trade and after the railroad arrived in 1848, into a small industrial hub. The 20th century drew artists and writers, shaping a creative identity that endures in today’s vibrant, waterfront community.