Bridgeport is located in the northeast corner of Alabama in Jackson County. It has a mayor/city council form of government.
History

On April 29, 1862, forces led by Union general Ormsby Mitchell seized control of Bridgeport and thus control of the strategic railroad bridge in the area. The opposing armies fought over the area until the summer of 1863, when Confederate troops burned the town as they retreated and Union forces took and maintained control of the bridge for the remainder of the conflict. The town hosted a Union field hospital and served as the construction site for several Union steamships. Bridgeport became a major shipping point for supplies going to Union general William T. Sherman during his sweep through Georgia and Alabama.

On April 27, 2011, a massive storm, causing numerous powerful tornadoes, struck the southeastern United States. More than 250 people were killed in Alabama, including one person in Bridgeport.
Demographics
According to 2016 Census estimates, Bridgeport recorded a population of 2,525. Of that number, 81.0 percent identified themselves as white, 10.3 as African American, 5.1 percent as two or more races, 1.6 percent as Native American, and 0.9 percent. The city's median household income was $29,122, and per capita income was $16,6.
Employment
According to 2016 Census estimates, the workforce in Bridgeport was divided among the following industrial categories:
- Manufacturing (31.7 percent)
- Educational services, and health care and social assistance (23.1 percent)
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services (11.3 percent)
- Retail trade (9.7 percent)
- Other services, except public administration (8.7 percent)
- Public administration (5.1 percent)
- Construction (3.6 percent)
- Professional, scientific, management, and administrative and waste management services (2.9 percent)
- Finance, insurance, and real estate, rental, and leasing (1.8 percent)
- Transportation and 95warehousing and utilities (1.5 percent)
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and extractive (0.7 percent)
Education
Schools in Bridgeport are part of the Jackson School District; the city has approximately 479 students and 31 teachers in one elementary and one middle school.
Transportation
Bridgeport is intersected by State Road 277, which runs north-south through the city. State highway 72 runs west from the city.
Events and Places of Interest

Each year on the fourth weekend in March, the city hosts a reenactment of the 1862 battle for control of the city's strategic railroad bridge between Union and Confederate forces. The reenactment attracts some 1,500 participants who, in addition to taking part in the battle, demonstrate what life was like for a soldier during the Civil War. Other events include an "anvil shoot," in which anvils are flung more than 100 feet into the air, and a gala ball featuring period dress. In addition, the town holds an annual Jubilee to celebrate the history and heritage of the area; it features live music, vendors, an antique car show, and other events.
Additional Resources
The Heritage of Jackson County, Alabama. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 1998.
Additional Resources
The Heritage of Jackson County, Alabama. Clanton, Ala.: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 1998.