1. For Bridgeporters It’s The Bluefish Or G.T.F.O.
The Bluefish are a baseball team that’s part of the Atlantic League and is mostly made up of veteran minor leaguers. But we really don’t care about their status because, to us, they may as well be the ‘effin Yankees. We. Are. Obsessed.
And when baseball season starts, you better believe we crowd The Ballpark At Harbor Yard to catch as many games as possible. They may not seem like much to you, but to us they’re the underdog who won’t quit. And we’ll defend them to our death if we have to. Seriously.
2. Yeah, Bridgeporters Are Pretty Intimidating
OK, so if we’re being honest, Bridgeport isn’t the safest of cities. We’re the most populous city in Connecticut and so, you know what they say, crime is bound to happen.
But—we may take that to the next level: According to “Business Insider,” Bridgeport’s rated the fourth most dangerous city in the country and were given a score of 10 out of 100 for “safety.” You can see why: At least 15 sets of gangs operate in Bridgeport, and in 2012 the crime problem got so bad the city passed a curfew to try to curb late-night violence.
Not our finest stereotype, but unfortunately the facts ring true. The good news is: it seems like crime rates are dropping. So let’s not get ourselves too down in the dumps about it, mmkay?
3. Bridgeporters Use...Ahem...Salty Language
Our language is a bit R-Rated sometimes. But what we lack in politeness we make up for in creativity. We’ll come up with the most entertaining string of swear words you’ll ever hear if you cut us off on the road, we’ll brawl like New Yorkers, and we’ll be the first to get in your face if you try to tell us off.
But don’t get offended: this is just the way we are. We’re loud and obnoxious sometimes—even to one another—but we have a lot of love in us and, at the end of the day, that’s all that matters, right?
4. But Bridgeporters Never Miss Mass On Sunday
Seventy percent of Bridgeporters are affiliated with a Catholic Church—that’s a lot of Hail Marys and Our Fathers being thrown around. Most of us were raised with the bible and a wooden spoon as our moral compass.
5. But The Real Religion In Bridgeport Is… Sneakers
Everyone in Bridgeport has 365 different pairs of sneakers, one for each day of the year (OK, not really, but you know what I mean).
We’re straight up sneakerheads. We’ll drop $250 on designer sneakers without blinking an eye, even if it costs us half a month’s rent. We collect them religiously.
There are hundreds of designer sneak brands, we know them all by name, and we’re serious collectors. Being a sneakerhead is a way of life, people.
6. Bridgeporters Are All Spray Paint Picassos
This is just obvious the second you go to the North-End: we are museum-worthy graffiti artists. So much so, that city officials (yes, that’s right, city officials) decided to set aside a section of the North-End to show off the work of our talented graffiti artists.
On the corner of Main and Gold Street, you can see incredible freestyle graffiti and large murals. The graffiti artwork has been so well received by the community that now that entire area has been turned into a public park with benches and trees.
Yeah, you know you’re awesome when you get your city officials to not only “OK” your graffiti, but make a park surrounding it.
7. Platanos And Chuletas Are The Bridgeport Food Pyramid
There are huge Dominican and Puerto Rican populations in Bridgeport, which definitely influence the culture, music, and (of course) food of us Bridgeporters.
Dominicans have made their way into being represented during the Great Barnum Street Parade and Puerto Ricans have an annual week-long festival and Puerto Rican Parade held each July.
So, if you want to get to know us Bridgeporters, get some platanos, tune into Radio Cumbre 1450 AM, and head to El Morivivi. You won’t regret it.
8. Bridgeporters Have All Said The Following: "I Don't Understand Why People Call Connecticut The Richest State—I Don't Have Any Damn Money!"
Let’s be honest, we Bridgeporters know that we aren’t necessarily at the top of the giant cash pile that is Connecticut. Economic disparity here is apparent, and there’s no hiding it. About 25 percent of us are living below the poverty level. That’s a helluva lot of Bridgeporters struggling to make ends meet.
That being said, we don’t view the high poverty rate here as something to cry about—instead we’ve view it as an opportunity to rise from the ashes. As of 2013, approximately 41 percent of the labor force has graduated college in Bridgeport and both professional and educational opportunities in Bridgeport have led to significant population growth, particularly the population of people 25-35 years of age.
With the economy on the rise in Bridgeport, and with the educated workforce growing in numbers, we look to the future, not to the past. So to all of those haters—we say, Pssh. Get over yourselves. Bridgeport is awesome.
9. Bridgeporters Frickin’ Hate People Who Hate On Bridgeport
If you ever do hear a Bridgeporter complaining about Bridgeport’s traffic or noise or loud people or poverty rates, it’s because he or she calls this city home and has the right to complain now and again.
But if you’re an outsider hating on us: Just. Stop.
We know the rest of Connecticut frequently likes to rag on us, especially because we’re not as economically stable as the rest of y’all. But we do know we’re strong and that we can come back from anything (see above!) And if you don’t watch out because...
10. Bridgeporters Are Loud, Proud, And Not Afraid To Kick Some Butt To Defend Their City
There isn’t a person in Bridgeport who isn’t loud and proud to say where they’re from. We’re a beautiful city with beautiful people of all different races, religions, and ethnicities, so of course we’re bit obnoxious when we brag about how great we are. Our economy is on the rise, our infrastructure is on the come up, and we know what we’re capable of as Bridgeporters.
You seriously better watch what you say about us. We’re not afraid to get physical to prove our point. And, because we’re Bridgeport, you’ll lose, obviously.
Feature Image Source: Bridgeport Bluefish via Facebook 
