[bluecountry]

I was curious, looking at stats, why is it Stratford has a relatively high umemployment rate and poverty compared to other towns in the area (besides Bridgeport)?
Why does this town appear to be lower on the scale in terms of job, income, well being?

[JayCT]

Stratford is mainly a blue collar town with a wide range of people. It was built as a working man's suburb of Bridgeport and a couple of major employers that moved there after World War II. As you know, much of Bridgeport's industry has left and one of Stratford's two largest employers closed (the Avco tank engine plant closed, but Sikorsky is thriving) leaving blue collar jobs hard to find. Stratford has not been able to recover much like othe blue collar suburbs of major CT cities. Stratford reminds me of East Hartford and West Haven which both face similar issues. JMHO Jay

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by bluecountry

I was curious, looking at stats, why is it Stratford has a relatively high umemployment rate and poverty compared to other towns in the area (besides Bridgeport)?
Why does this town appear to be lower on the scale in terms of job, income, well being?

Unemployment rates have always been a bit higher than surrounding towns. I'm not aware of any poverty endemic though. What stats are you referencing?

[bluecountry]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Stratford is mainly a blue collar town with a wide range of people. It was built as a working man's suburb of Bridgeport and a couple of major employers that moved there after World War II. As you know, much of Bridgeport's industry has left and one of Stratford's two largest employers closed (the Avco tank engine plant closed, but Sikorsky is thriving) leaving blue collar jobs hard to find. Stratford has not been able to recover much like othe blue collar suburbs of major CT cities. Stratford reminds me of East Hartford and West Haven which both face similar issues. JMHO Jay

Thanks Jay.
1) What are the two companies you are referring too which left?
2) Would you happen to know of any articles describing Stratford's blue collar history and industry decline and/or that of West Haven and the similarities to East Hartford?

[JayCT]

Bluecountry - The plant that closed is the Avco/Textron/Lycoming Tank engine factory on Sout Main Street across from the airport. It has been closed for over 10 years now and has not even begun redevelopment efforts yet. In fact, the Federal government is ready to take the plant back from the city because they have done nothing with it after all these years. This seems to be a problem in Stratford because they have been trying to reopen the Shakespeare Theater and can't get that moving either. I do not know of any articles about this other than what Iread in the Connecticut Post. Jay