Stratford: Sikorsky Helicopters and the Housatonic's Industrial Shore
Stratford lies along the eastern bank of the Housatonic River where it empties into Long Island Sound, directly across from the city of Milford. The town's modern identity is inseparable from Sikorsky Aircraft, founded by Igor Sikorsky in 1929 and now a division of Lockheed Martin. The company's main plant and engineering facilities remain in Stratford, where helicopters including the Black Hawk have been designed and assembled. Sikorsky is the largest private employer in the area.
The American Shakespeare Theatre operated on the Housatonic riverfront from 1955 to 1982, producing professional Shakespeare performances that drew audiences from New York and New England. The theater building, a distinctive structure inspired by the Globe Theatre, fell into disuse and became a subject of preservation debates for decades. Despite various redevelopment proposals, the structure was demolished in 2019. The site remains largely undeveloped.
Stratford's population of approximately 51,384 lives in neighborhoods that range from waterfront areas along Long Beach to residential streets further inland. Boothe Memorial Park, a former estate containing unusual structures including a miniature lighthouse, a clock tower, and a blacksmith shop, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Short Beach, accessible from Shore Road, is a popular summer spot. The Stratford rail station on the Metro-North New Haven Line provides commuter access to New York.
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Stratford lies along the eastern bank of the Housatonic River where it empties into Long Island Sound, directly across from the city of Milford. The town's modern identity is inseparable from Sikorsky Aircraft, founded by Igor Sikorsky in 1929 and now a division of Lockheed Martin. The company's main plant and engineering facilities remain in Stratford, where helicopters including the Black Hawk have been designed and assembled. Sikorsky is the largest private employer in the area.
The American Shakespeare Theatre operated on the Housatonic riverfront from 1955 to 1982, producing professional Shakespeare performances that drew audiences from New York and New England. The theater building, a distinctive structure inspired by the Globe Theatre, fell into disuse and became a subject of preservation debates for decades. Despite various redevelopment proposals, the structure was demolished in 2019. The site remains largely undeveloped.
Stratford's population of approximately 51,384 lives in neighborhoods that range from waterfront areas along Long Beach to residential streets further inland. Boothe Memorial Park, a former estate containing unusual structures including a miniature lighthouse, a clock tower, and a blacksmith shop, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Short Beach, accessible from Shore Road, is a popular summer spot. The Stratford rail station on the Metro-North New Haven Line provides commuter access to New York.
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