Southport Village

 

Southport, Connecticut, is a beautiful coastal hamlet in Fairfield County, located just over an hour outside of New York City. The small village, settled in 1639, is part of the town of Fairfield and evocative of its rich New England history. Southport was designated a local historic district in 1967.

 

During the eighteenth century, Mill River Village was a small community of just a few houses and a wharf at the mouth of the Mill River. The harbor allowed for farm products from the surrounding areas to be shipped to ports in New York and beyond. By 1831, this little community, by then known as Southport, had evolved into a bustling commercial area with beautiful homes alongside churches, schools, stores, and warehouses. As a leading coastal port on Long Island Sound, Southport enjoyed great economic prosperity. Soon, the railroad would arrive, creating new opportunities while at the same time competing with the shipping industry. By this time, Southport was well-known for its high-quality onions, grown on Fairfield’s hills and shipped out via the harbor.

 

During the 1890s, 100,000 barrels of Southport onions were shipped each year, along with locally grown carrots, potatoes, and other goods. In addition to its identity as a shipping center, Southport, with only two banks serving all of Fairfield, was also the area’s financial district.

 

The historic allure remains today. A drive through the charming village reveals majestic, tree-lined streets and elegant, stately homes of varying architectural styles – Greek Revival, Georgian, Victorian, Colonial, Romanesque, and Federal – giving us a view into a historic, bygone era.

 

The old village is protected by strict zoning laws, designed to preserve its history for future generations. The small seaport area boasts a private yacht club, its own library, two churches, several lovely shops and antique stores, restaurants, and a boutique hotel. The views of the Long Island Sound are positively breathtaking.