The population was 49,976 at the 2000 census. It has a historical legacy in aviation, the military, and the theater. In 1942, Igor Sikorsky developed and produced the first successful single-rotor helicopter in Stratford. The town was also the home of the Stratford Army Engine Plant from 1939 to 1998.
Stratford was once home to the renowned American Shakespeare Festival, which was housed, until its closure, at its 1,100 seat Stratford Festival Theatre on the Housatonic River. Other Stratford features include Sikorsky Memorial Airport and the Great Meadows Unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, which borders the airport. Today, Stratford has two Superfund sites as designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Stratford is bordered on the west by Bridgeport, on the north by Trumbull, and Shelton, and on the east by Milford, (across the Housatonic).
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,976 people, 19,898 households, and 13,630 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,841.9 people per square mile (1,097.0/km²). There were 20,596 housing units at an average density of 1,171.2/sq mi (452.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.76% White, 9.79% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.14% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.80% of the population.
There were 19,898 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $53,494, and the median income for a family was $64,364. Males had a median income of $45,552 versus $34,575 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,501. About 3.5% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Although owned by the City of Bridgeport, Sikorsky Memorial Airport is located in Stratford. The 800-acre (3.2 km) facility includes two paved runways (both under 4800 feet), a helipad, and two hangars. It provides helicopter service to New York and the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and is used as a landing site for blimps and small aircraft. In 2007, 241 aircraft were based at the airport, with an average of 212 operations per day.
Stratford (Metro-North station) is a stop on the New Haven Line, 59 miles (95 km) east of Grand Central Terminal. Average travel time into Manhattan is about 90 minutes. The station platforms only four cars and has limited parking of fewer than 300 spaces. It features three ticket machines, a bus connection to neighboring Bridgeport, and handicapped access.
Stratford is served by several major highways, including Interstate 95 (Connecticut Turnpike), U.S. Route 1 (Boston Post Road) (Boston Avenue and Barnum Avenue), the Merritt Parkway (Route 15), Route 108 (Nichols Avenue), Route 110 (East Main Street and River Road), Route 113 (Lordship Boulevard and Main Street), and Route 130 (Stratford Avenue and Ferry Boulevard).