For the first half of 2004, Stamford was the safest city in the United States with population over 100,000, according to the FBI. Given Stamford's urbanness, and diversity this is an extraordinary accomplishment; however, crime in the nearby New York metropolitan area in general has diminished greatly since the 1990s and is actually lower than many other major U.S. metropolitan areas today.

History

Stamford was known as Rippowam by the Native American inhabitants to the region, and the very first European settlers to the area also referred to it as such. The name was later changed to Stamford after a town in Lincolnshire, England. The deed to Stamford was signed on 1 July 1640 between Captain Turner of the New Haven Colony and Chief Ponus. The land that now forms the city of Stamford was bought for 12 coats, 12 hoes, 12 hatchets, 12 glasses, 12 knives, four kettles, and four fathoms of white wampum. The deed was renegotiated several times until 1700 when the territory was given up by the Native American inhabitants for a more substantial sum of money.

One of the primary industries of the small colony was merchandising by water, which was possible due to Stamford's proximity to New York.

Stamford incorporated as a city in 1893. Despite its age, Stamford has very few historic buildings. This can be attributed to a massive urban redevelopment campaign during the 1970s that changed the face of the downtown. The few historic buildings include Old Town Hall (1905, currently unoccupied) and Hoyt Barnum House (1699) And the old Yale and Towne building (1869) it was once a lock company (the stamford seal has the two keys from it).

Geography and climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 134.9 km? (52.1 mi?). 97.8 km? (37.8 mi?) of it is land and 37.1 km? (14.3 mi?) of it is water. The total area is 27.52% water.

Neighborhoods

Stamford is broken into sections, each of which has distinct character owing to the type of business and industry that thrived there at one time, such as the South End with its heavy manufacturing. Other areas include North Stamford (zip code 06903) known for its wealth, Turn of River, Roxbury, Newfield, Belltown, Springdale, Glenbrook, Hubbard Heights, Shippan, Westover and Long Ridge, which is home to many blue chip corporations.

Downtown also has a shopping mall, the Stamford Town Center, opened 1982. Ridgeway Center, located about a mile north of downtown, is one of the oldest shopping centers of its type, having been built in the 1940s. It was renovated in 1998.

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there were 117,083 people, 45,399 households, and 28,964 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,197.5/km? (3,101.9/mi?). There were 47,317 housing units at an average density of 484.0/km? (1,253.6/mi?). The racial makeup of the city was 69.79% White 65.4% of Whites were of Italian origin, 15.39% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 5.00% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.50% from other races, and 3.07% from two or more races. 16.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 45,399 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $60,556, and the median income for a family was $69,337. Males had a median income of $48,386 versus $36,958 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,987. 7.9% of the population and 5.4% of families were below the poverty line. 8.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Italians form the largest ethnic group in Stamford. Irish, Polish, Jewish, Puerto Rican, African-American, and Caribbean people also make up a significant portion of the population.