Fairfield County, County in southwestern Connecticut, United States.
Fairfield County is a southwestern Connecticut region stretching along the Long Island Sound, covering cities, suburbs, and coastal towns between New York State and New Haven County. The landscape shifts from urban centers like Bridgeport and Stamford to residential neighborhoods with colonial homes, waterfront marinas, and wooded parks inland.
Connecticut officials created the county in May 1666 in Hartford, grouping together six original settlements including Greenwich, Stamford, and Stratford. Over the following centuries, the area evolved from farming communities into a commercial corridor closely tied to New York City's economy.
The county serves as headquarters for nineteen Fortune 1000 corporations and maintains strong educational standards with 45 percent of residents holding university degrees.
Metro-North trains connect several towns in the area to Manhattan, with frequent service during weekday commuting hours. Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway run parallel to the coast, linking communities and providing access to parks and waterfront areas.
Many companies moved their headquarters here from Manhattan during the 1960s and 1970s, reversing the usual direction of commuting in the New York area. Today, residents often travel in both directions, with some working locally and others commuting into the city.
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