- Over 150 Years of History -
- We invite you to visit Bridgeport and enjoy what our small Texan town has to offer -
Bridgeport was founded in 1860 by William H. Hunt. Hunt was granted a charter from the West Fork Bridge Company to build a bridge across the West Fork of the Trinity River. A Texas State Historical Marker alongside Farm to Market Road 920 denotes the spot of the original bridge today. The wooden bridge was used as part of the Butterfield Overland Mail Route until the start of the American Civil War, where it was then abandoned and later collapsed in the river.
In 1873, a new iron bridge was built to replace the fallen wooden bridge, and a post office was established, thus formally creating the city of Bridgeport. The town’s future was assured in 1882 when Charles Cates discovered a vein of bituminous coal while drilling for water, and the Wise County Coal Company was formed. The Wise County Coal Company was a leading producer of coal for the state of Texas until competition from petroleum and natural gas closed the coal mines in 1929. During the latter half of the 20th Century, oil, gas, and limestone industries continued to flourish and the town became the second largest town in Wise County.
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- Destination Bridgeport -
A Product of Three Separate Organizations Working Together to Build a Better Bridgeport
Whether you are a new or established business, the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce is here to be your preeminent business resource. It is our goal to provide members with opportunities to develop their businesses and become more profitable. For example, events such as Taste Bridgeport, Butterfield Stage Days Festival, and Small Business Saturday are just a few ways in which we help your promote your business.
We are committed to being involved and building relationships that will result in the growth of your business. Becoming a member will enhance your credibility, visibility, and networking!
The City of Bridgeport is committed to preserving our downtown business district by using our past to promote our future.
Bridgeport is fortunate in that we’re not fighting for our survival like many small Texas towns, but we are fighting to maintain our identity. As welcome growth hurtles our way, it’s more important now than ever to protect, preserve, and glorify the things that gave us our roots and make us unique. Our downtown is our heart, and it takes all of us to keep it healthy.
Bridgeport Main Street cultivates a vibrant downtown, one that embraces the past and celebrates the future, through preservation, economic development and community involvement.
Lead agency for coordinating economic assistance and incentive agreements for business entities seeking to expand and/or relocate operations to Bridgeport.
Bridgeport EDC efforts have generated hundreds of primary jobs using incentive packages that have included economic development grants, infrastructure participation, equipment purchases, relocation expenses, employee training, interest buy-downs, and others.
Bridgeport EDC also owns Endeavor Bridgeport which serves as a business park and doubles as an Adventure Park!