Bridgeport is an unincorporated community that is the county seat of Mono County, California.[1] It lies at an elevation of 6463 feet (1970 m).[1] Bridgeport is located at the intersection of highways US 395 and State Route 182. The current population is 817.[2]
Geography and Features
The first post office at Bridgeport opened in 1864.[3] The ZIP Code is 93517, and the community is inside area code 760.
Visitors to Bridgeport often take advantage of one of California's best-kept natural hot springs, the Travertine Hot Springs, in the hills to the east of the town.
The US Marine Corps' Mountain Warfare Training Center is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) north of Bridgeport on State Route 108.
Bridgeport is also notable for its proximity to the well-preserved ghost town of Bodie.
Formerly known as Piney Meadows, Bridgeport is annually visited by thousands of tourists, many of whom come to the area for its well-known trout streams and lakes. Bridgeport Reservoir, Twin Lakes, Virginia Lakes, Green Creek, the East Walker River, the West Walker River and numerous small tributaries and backcountry lakes offer some of the premier Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat trout fishing to be found anywhere in the world.
The Bridgeport Fish Enhancement Program sponsors fishing tournaments twice per season.
One of the finest 4th of July celebrations in the state is held at Bridgeport every year.
Bridgeport also occasionally plays host to the annual E Clampus Vitus celebration.
Bridgeport has some of the finest backcountry winter recreation in the world. Over 500 miles of cross country skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding, snowmobiling and multiple-use trails are found around the town, including Virginia Lakes Road, the Sweetwater Range, Buckeye, Bodie Hills and Summers Meadows. Huge numbers of backcountry bowls can be used for telemarking and XC Downhilling. Always check weather and avalanche conditions before venturing into the backcountry; weather conditions change rapidly.
Climate
Average January temperatures in Bridgeport are a maximum of 41.2°F and a minimum of 8.6°F. Average July temperatures are a maximum of 82.9°F and a minimum of 40.2°F. There are an average of 5.6 days with highs of 90°F (32°C) or higher and an average of 255.7 days with lows of 32°F (0°C) or lower. The record high temperature of 98°F was on July 28, 1944. The record low temperature of -36°F was on January 31, 1916.
Average annual precipitation is 9.36 inches. There are an average of 40 days with measurable preciptation. The wettest year was 1983 with 19.96 inches and the dryest year was 1990 with 3.02 inches. The most precipitation in one month was 7.69 inches in January 1969. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 2.59 inches on January 31, 1963. Average annual snowfall is 49.5 inches. The most snowfall in one year was 174.06 in 1916, including 121.0 inches in January 1916.[4]
Politics
In the state legislature Bridgeport is located in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Dave Cox, and in the 25th Assembly District, represented by Republican Tom Berryhill. Federally, Bridgeport is located in California's 25th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +7[5] and is represented by Republican Buck McKeon.
Bridgeport is the tribal headquarters for the Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony of California.[6]
Education
Bridgeport is in the Eastern Sierra Unified School District, which has its main office in town.[7] An elementary school and a high school (Eastern Sierra Academy[8]) are located in Bridgeport.[7] Bridgeport also has a public library.[7]
Bridgeport in fiction
Bridgeport Reservoir, Bryant Field
Bridgeport is the setting of the 1947 film Out of the Past; several sequences were filmed on location in the town.
Bridgeport plays a small role in the novel The Dharma Bums (1958) by Jack Kerouac; it is the place from where the main characters Ray Smith, Japhy Ryder and Henry Morley start their climb to the nearby Matterhorn Peak.
References
External links
