If you want a town with centuries of history, you've got it! Bridgeport was first discovered in 1764, and among its famous residents was Colonel Benjamin Wilson, a congressman who was born in 1825.
Bridgeport is located in the northern part of West Virginia, equally close to the scenic Simpson Creek and the busy U
If you want a town with centuries of history, you've got it! Bridgeport was first discovered in 1764, and among its famous residents was Colonel Benjamin Wilson, a congressman who was born in 1825.
Bridgeport is located in the northern part of West Virginia, equally close to the scenic Simpson Creek and the busy U.S. Route 50. That means you get a little bit of nature and a little bit of easy travel when you live here. The population of this city sits at a mere 8,149 at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census, but residents have pretty fast access to the Clarksburg micropolitan area. Yep, that's right -- the largest nearby city is still pretty small. But then major cities like Charleston, Wheeling, and even Pittsburgh, are only about 1.5 hours away by car.
Well, the good news is that you're moving to a pretty inexpensive state, considering that the median value of homes here is about half the national average. Ready for some not so great news? This city in particular is kind of costly for West Virginia, so whether you plan to buy a house or find a home for rent, you'll pay close to the national average for housing. It could be worse, right?
Types of Places for Rent in Bridgeport
You can choose to rent an apartment or go for a spacious detached home here, because you will find both types of homes in Bridgeport. In fact, you can also find some townhomes and a few mobile homes available. No matter what you are searching for, take note that most of the places to rent in Bridgeport feature three or four bedrooms and were built between 1970 and 1999. Of course, you can also find newer homes if you want to be among the first people to live in your abode, along with older homes if you like housing with a little character.
Committing to a Rental Home
After you locate the home you could see yourself in for the duration of the lease, it's time to sign some important documents. Want to feel really prepared? Bring a reliable pen! Oh yeah, and some pay stubs to prove you are gainfully employed, and maybe a check for the deposit, too. If you are unsure of how to prepare for the long day of signing paperwork, you can always call the landlord or rental agency to find out exactly what you need.
This city features more than 10 and half square miles, but there are really only two distinct neighborhoods. Each one has slightly different types of housing and local amenities, which you should explore before you make a decision on where your next home will be.
Maple Lake / Lake Ridge: Well, if you like lakes, this is your best bet! Not only is Maple Lake located here, but there are also lots of lake-like street names to remind you of it. So bring your best fishing pole and get ready to check out the housing here. Be warned; this suburban area is not walkable at all, but it is really close to U.S. Route 50, Interstate 79, and even North Central West Virginia Airport, making travel really easy. This area also has Oliverio's Ristorante and some industrial businesses.
City Center: If you're looking for a bit more walkability and lots of businesses, you have come to the right place. The center of the city is actually more like the northwestern part of the city, but that's just a minor detail, right? This area is the place to be if you like the idea of living near Bridgeport Public Library, Bridgeport Country Club, Meadowbrook Mall, and lots of other local businesses.
If you drive in this city, chances are you will use U.S. Route 50 to go east and west, and Interstate 79 to go north or south, unless you just prefer surface streets for some reason. And you should plan on driving, since reliable public transportation is pretty much nonexistent here. If you don't plan to get a car, you should at least try to move to City Center so you can walk to some of the stores, eateries, and parks in Bridgeport.
Speaking of stores, the main thing to do here is hang out at Meadowbrook Mall. That's because it has about 100 stores, ranging from Kay Jewelers and Buckle to Dick's Sporting Goods and GameStop. There's something for everyone here, and that extends to the restaurants. They include Charley's Grilled Subs, Tex Mex Caf̩, Outback Steakhouse, and Garfield's Restaurant and Pub, to name some of the most popular options.
On the off chance that you don't feel like eating, drinking, or shopping, you can always see a movie at Cinemark. And if you prefer to stay away from major malls, you can head over to one of the many other shopping centers in this city so you can eat at places like Parkette Family Restaurant, Hank's Deli, Mia Margherita, or Buffalo Wild Wings. Considering the small population, there is a surprising number of places to eat and shop in Bridgeport, and you should be looking forward to finding this out firsthand once you move here.
Of course, the residents here do not always spend their days indoors. They also like to show off their skills on the greens at the Pete Dye Golf Club or Bridgeport Country Club. Other local amenities have plenty of green spaces, too, such as Bridgeport City Park and Compton Park. And then there are the many bodies of water, such as Maple Lake, Deegan Lake, and Oral Lake, to name a few.
Whether you like shopping, dining out, or sunbathing by local lakes, you can plainly see that Bridgeport is perfect for these activities. But on the rare occasion that you need to get out of town for the weekend, you can easily travel to one of the major cities just a few hours away. Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio, are all about three hours away from this city, and that's just a sampling of nearby places. So not only is Bridgeport itself pretty packed with things to do, but also its location is ideal!
