Milford, CT

The oyster town of Milford, Connecticut, nicknamed 'A Small City with a Big Heart,' has experienced substantial growth in recent history. Although the city's population has risen to over 50,000, Milford has kept its New England charm by the preservation of its natural landscape and colonial style of older homes. Located on the mouth of the Housatonic River in Southern Connecticut, between the larger cities of Bridgeport and New Haven, Milford has become a beach resort town for the entire region.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Notable areas in Milford include:

• Downtown Milford: Connecticut's sixth oldest city, Milford's downtown has maintained the charm of a small coastal town. At the center of the city, Milford Town Hall stands as an example of traditional colonial architecture. The Town Green is a point of pride for Milford residents, as it is the second longest in the state. The downtown area leads to the harbor where the 35-slip marina can accommodate ships up to 65 feet long.
• Devon: The village of Devon is on the west side of Milford and home to Walnut and Windermere Beaches. The Connecticut Audubon Society Costal Center overlooks an estuary and is a popular bird watching spot. The neighborhood of Devon includes the mouth of the Housatonic River with its two principal beaches being Walnut Beach and Wildermere. There are seventeen miles of coastline of the Long Island Sound in Milford. The newly opened Firehouse Art Gallery has added to the arts scene in Devon.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Milford's economy has been substantially revitalized as it has become the headquarters of a number of major companies. Also, the retail industry has developed significantly off of Route 1 and Boston Post Road. The economy in Milford includes the retail, manufacturing, health care, consumer products, internet, and service industries. The median family income is above average. Unemployment is also a little higher than the national and state averages, but the city has seen job growth in recent years. The harbor still provides the town with a strong shellfish industry, as it has done for generations. Milford was long the United States headquarters of the BIC Corporation, but the company recently moved its base to Shelton, Connecticut. Major employers include:

• Subway Fast ' Corporation: The 'Submarine' Sandwich Company has over 30,000 franchises in 87 countries, making it the third largest fast ' corporation in the world. The company was ranked as the No. 1 franchise in Entrepreneur Magazine for 2009.
• Schick Shaving Company: This is the second leading seller of safety razors in the world. Some of the company's products include the Schick Xtreme 3, Schick ST, and the Schick Lady Protector.
• Eastern Bag & Paper Group: Eastern Bag is the leading distributor of paper products in the Northeastern United States.
• Milford Hospital: This is a vital health source and employer for the south central region of Connecticut.

SHOPPING

• Connecticut Post Mall: Located off Boston Post Road, the Connecticut Post Mall is one of the largest shopping centers in the state with 190 stores including Target, Borders, Dick's Sporting Goods, Sears and JC Penney. The Westfield owned shopping center offers six restaurants to choose from, and well as the Cinema de Lux, a 14-screen movie theater.

BEST BETS

• Milford Oyster Festival: The annual festival features music, seafood, canoe races, and a classic car show. It is held on the Milford Town Green at the city center. Started in 1975, the festival has grown into one of the community's most popular events.
• Milford Fine Arts Council Center for the Arts: This is a publicly funded art center that supports local art, offers classes for youths and adults, and hosts art-related events.
• Silver Sands State Park: The Connecticut State Park provides a beach for swimming, hiking trails, bird watching spots, boardwalks, and a tombola that leads out to Charles Island.
• Charles Island: Thought to be the place where Captain Kidd buried his treasure, Charles Island is now a protected bird sanctuary owned by the state of Connecticut. In keeping with the legend of Captain Kidd, local folklore contends that the island is haunted by spirits, explaining why no building has ever lasted very long on the island. The island was used as an amusement center and monastery for periods of time, and the ruins of the monastery can still be seen on the island today.
• Firehouse Gallery: Formerly the station house for Walnut Beach Fire Company #3, the building has been converted into an art gallery/art studio. It has a lower level for exhibitions, classes, and workshops, while the second level is used for administrative uses and a residential living space for artists in residence.

LOCAL MEDIA

Newspapers:

• Milford Daily News
• Milford Mirror

Radio Stations:

• WEFX 95.9 FM Classic Rock
• WKSS 95.7 FM Top 40 Hits
• WKHL 96.7 FM Oldies
• WFIF 1500 AM Religious
• WWCO 1240 AM Talk