Historical Development and Geographic Boundaries
Bridgeport, CT, is a seaport city based in the U.S. state of Connecticut and within Fairfield County. The city neighbours Stratford to the east, Trumbull to the north, and Fairfield to the west. Bridgeport, CT, is the 48 th largest urban area within the United States and fifth-most populous with an approximate population of 145,000 ( Murphy, 2018 ). The Paugusset Native American tribe were the inhibitors of the city during English colonization. The city was under the leadership of Barnum as the town manager in the late 19 th century, who built four houses to host circus during winter. 1965 was the first opening year of Frisbee subway restaurant, and after World War II, the city had challenges such as crime and poverty increase resulting from industrial suburbanization and restructuring through the loss of affluent residents and jobs.
Bridgeport, CT, geographically lies at the mouth of the Pequonnock River along Long Island Sound. The city has a renowned public park system with Westerly portion of McLevy Green established in 1806, Clinton Park Militia Grounds established in 1666 as well as Old Mill Green established in 1717. Other parks within the city include Seaside, Beardsley, Beechwood, and Pleasure Beach Parks. However, the city is surrounded by various neighborhoods that have five distinct geographical areas, namely, the North End, the West Side, the East Side, Downtown, and the South End. Bridgeport, CT city temperature climate is influenced by maritime, and as per Koppen climate classification, the city lies between the humid subtropical to the south and continental climates of New England.
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Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics
The demographics, as well as socioeconomic traits of the Bridgeport, CT community, are based on the 2000 population census. The population density as per 2000 census was 8,720.9 per square mile with 50,307 households, 32,749 families, and a total of 139,529 people. The city by 2000 census had racial makeup of 45% white, 30.8% Africa American, 3.3% Asian, 0.5% Native American and 0.1% Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Latino. The racial population census also included other ancestry groups such as Irish, Polish, German, Italian, and Portuguese ( Rhoades, 2016 ). The 2010 census has put the Bridgeport, CT city as the unequal region in America with top income quintile absorbing the whole wealth. However, the city exhibit difficult socioeconomic situations, and non-profit organizations such as FSWINC has provided care to uplift individuals living under the poverty line.
There is a gap between the poor and wealthy given that Bridgeport, CT, is characterized by Americans with top income quintile absorbing the whole wealth, hence worsening the socioeconomic situations in this city. Health disparities in Bridgeport, CT, come as a result of socioeconomic factors such as disease prevalence, risk differences, incidence, mortality, and morbidity. Socioeconomic position based on age, immigrant status, ethnicity, race, sexual minority, and gender plays a vital role in the decision of health disparities.
Key and Vulnerable Groups
The population of Bridgeport, CT, is approximately 148 people with the ethnic composition of 57, 000 Hispanic or Latinos, 48,000 Black or African American, 31,000 white and 4500 Asian key resident groups. However, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiians are considered vulnerable as well as marginalized resident groups. The city has no common foreign language spoken. Vulnerable groups in Bridgeport are susceptible to an undercount and have health concerns under the health act. The vulnerable groups in Bridgeport, CT, receive health inequalities such as poor and low health quality service delivery as well as barriers to care. Vulnerable groups are unable to meet that demand for health services due to financial constraints since key major groups have free access to health services and given priority on medication as compared to vulnerable groups. Despite the city being populous, the Care Act do not favor vulnerable groups, making it hard for these group to meet health care demand as they live under the poverty line.
The vulnerable groups are unable to meet the demand and life standards of the city as it stands out to be the most populous city in the United States and therefore exhibiting difficult socioeconomic situations. However, marginalization as American with top income quintile absorbing the whole wealth has also worsened the socioeconomic situations, making life in Bridgeport, CT hard, especially for a vulnerable group. Despite, the state of Connecticut having favorable health profile nationally, equal health distribution across geographic regions such as Bridgeport, CT, as well as population groups, lacks ( Stewart, 2017 ). Certain populations who are among the majority groups receive better health care as compared to vulnerable groups. There is disproportional health distribution in terms of racial, ethnicity, low-income, and less educated populations.
Health disparities in Bridgeport, CT, come as a result of socioeconomic factors such as disease prevalence, risk differences, incidence, mortality, and morbidity. Socioeconomic position based on age, immigrant status, ethnicity, race, sexual minority, and gender plays a vital role in the decision of health disparities.
References
Murphy, B. (2018). The Fall of Mount trashmore and the rise of Community Activism: environmental Justice and the Politics of inclusion, Bridgeport, Connecticut (1991– Present). Connecticut History Review , 57 (2), 154-179.
Rhoades, J. L. (2016). Enhancing the Resilience of Vulnerable Groups Through Participatory Climate Change Adaptation Planning: A Case Study with the Elderly Community of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Stewart, C. (2017). Operationalizing the SoHo Effect: An Analysis of Affordable Artist Housing in Bridgeport, Connecticut (Doctoral dissertation, Columbia University).
