Southport, Connecticut | A Historic Coastal Village
Settled in 1639, the beautiful coastal hamlet of Southport, Connecticut, boasts a rich New England history.
By Jessica Gordon Ryan|Jan 03 2022|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanSouthport, 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.
Photo Credit : Jessica Ryan
As a leading coastal port on Long Island Sound, Southport enjoyed great economic prosperity. Soon the railroad would arrive, creating new opportunity 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 shipping each year, along with locally grown carrots, potatoes, and other goods. In addition to its identity as a shipping center, Southport with the only two banks serving all of Fairfield, was also the area’s financial district.
Photo Credit : Jessica Ryan
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 an 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.
Photo Credit : Jessica Ryan
What puts this small village on the map today is an annual event hosted by the Southport Congregational Church, “Rooms with a View,” started by interior designer Albert Hadley two decades ago. This premier design experience, now chaired by Thom Filicia, celebrates art, architecture and design in vignette form, reflecting a specific theme. The event, which takes place in the middle of November, has showcased some of our country’s top design talents and personalities. Over the past 20 years, “Rooms with a View” has raised over $1,300,000 for the church and its missions.
Have you ever visited Southport, Connecticut?
This post was first published in 2015 and has been updated.
SEE MORE:
10 Prettiest Coastal Towns in New England
Historic Essex, Connecticut | The Perfect Small Town
Old Saybrook, Connecticut in Autumn | A Historic Village on the Connecticut Shoreline
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We loved driving down to Essex from Middletown when we lived in CT two years ago. Essex reminds me so much of Harbor Springs, MI because of its connection to the water, the delightful art and architecture, and the lovely days in the fall when we visited. We ate lunch at The Gris, walked around the town, took pictures of the quaint houses and streets, and had to get an ice cream cone at the creamery downtown. Many delightful days there for us.
I have SO much trouble convincing even other Connecticut residents that “Southport” is not a separate town – that it is simply a “neighborhood” in the town of Fairfield. True — many of its locals like to ACT AS IF Southport was a separate entity (especially around Southport’s/Fairfield’s “Horse Shoe Cafe”), but please be aware that they are deluding themselves. “Southport” is a neighborhood, not an individual town. Thankyouverymuch.
I have to disagree with Jeffrey as to his impression of Southport residents, and especially patrons of the Horseshoe Café. The Village is Southport is a welcoming and friendly business district both shop owners and patrons alike.
Thank you for the update to this article, including the information about Southport Congregational Church. My dad was organist there from 1951-1983, and I have many lovely memories of the wonderful people, the beautiful church building, and the view of the inlet across the road. It’s great to know they still have a great presence in the community!
Southport city is located in Connecticut State, Fairfield County and has a unique zip code assigned by the US Postal Service Office. I was born and raised there….my parents born and raised…..
I’m having a friendly debate ( wager is involved) with wife regarding stores located downtown Southport. I recall a very small ( quaint ..not Spic & Spam) where the proprietor wrote a listing of prices of each item purchased on the side of the brown paper bag, which contained the purchased items.. along with a grand total.. he did not have an tabulator. My wife recall this store being Spic and Spam. I say no as I recall there being two grocery type stores in downtown Southport I’m mid seventies. Who’s correct?
Thanks
I believe you are thinking of the Soter Grocery Store, run by a man named Jim. We called the place Jimmy’s. It was adjacent to a liquor store with an insurance company (The Russell Agency) beyond that.
Jimmy’s was operated by his son William for a few years after Jim’s health declined and he passed. It is now the site of a pizza parlor called Sam’s (or Sammy’s?) Pizza. The liquor store is long gone and the Russell Agency has expanded their operations into that portion of the building.
I grew up in Fairfield, CT. During high school I worked at the Spic and Span market, 1966 to 1968. A beautiful then and it always will be.
Southport really was that pretty. I worked Switzer’s Pharmacy in the 1970s, and I remember the market as “Albert’s”, but memories fade. There was a liquor store next door, if memory serves. The ‘Shoe has always had a life of it’s own- I hear that it is a much higher grade place now than in the days of my youth.