AbstractsGeography &GIS

A Re-orientation of Fairfield, Connecticut from a Suburb of Bridgeport to a Suburb of New York City

by Alexandra Rose Johnston




Institution: Central Connecticut State University
Department: Department of Geography
Year: 2015
Keywords: Fairfield (Conn. : Town); Bridgeport (Conn.); New York Suburban Area.
Record ID: 2063241
Full text PDF: http://content.library.ccsu.edu/u?/ccsutheses,2070


Abstract

The town of Fairfield is located in southwestern Connecticut, adjacent to the city of Bridgeport. Notably, the Metro North New Haven line, one of the most widely used commuter rail lines in the country, also runs through the town of Fairfield. The presence and continued development of Metro North's New Haven Line has allowed for high rates of travel of residents to New York City. The importance of Metro North to the residents of the town of Fairfield is clear in the presence of three metro stations, Fairfield Metro, Fairfield and Southport station. This thesis focuses on the reorientation of Fairfield from a suburb of Bridgeport to a suburb of New York City. Methods for conducting research included analyzing academic writing on outdated administrative boundaries, social interactions in urban regions, and urban economics. Other methods included analyzing census data as well as conducting interviews with town and government officials and Fairfield residents. Research shows that due to the increasing importance of the New Haven Line of Metro North for commuter purposes, so has the reliance on transit-oriented development. The push for economic growth that can be made possible by the strong linkage to New York City that the New Haven Line produces has also led to the increasing lack of dependence on Bridgeport's economy. This thesis also concluded that there is an increased connection to New York City. This has affected property values, retail habits, and traffic patterns of Fairfield residents and therefore illustrates how Fairfield culturally and geographically reoriented to from a suburb of Bridgeport to a suburb of New York City. "Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geography."; Thesis advisor: Cynthia Pope.; M.S.,Central Connecticut State University,,2015.;