Bridgeport is a city in Morrill County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,454 at the 2020 census.
History
thumb|Bridgeport, Nebraska in 1907
Bridgeport got its start in the year 1899, following the construction of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad through the territory. The town that sprang up took its name from a bridge over the North Platte River. Bridgeport was incorporated as a village in 1901.
Geography
Bridgeport is located slightly southwest of the geographic center of Morrill County and is mostly on the south side of the North Platte River. U.S. Routes 26 and 385 converge on the city, sharing a bridge over the North Platte that enters the city from the north. US 26 leads northwest to Scottsbluff and southeast to Ogallala, while US 385 leads north to Alliance and south to Sidney. Nebraska Highway 92 also passes through Bridgeport, providing a more direct route of to Scottsbluff.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Bridgeport has a total area of , of which , or 0.25%, is water, comprising the portion of the city limits that extends north over the North Platte River.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,545 people, 644 households, and 407 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 728 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 87.1% White, 0.5% African American, 1.9% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 8.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.2% of the population.
There were 644 households, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34, and the average family size was 3.01.
The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.8% were from 25 to 44; 23.5% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
2000 census
As of the census The lowest temperature ever recorded in the state of Nebraska (−47 °F) was witnessed at Bridgeport on February 12, 1899. This record was later tied by the city of Oshkosh on December 22, 1989; that month, Bridgeport fell to −42 °F.