Bridgeport

History

The settlement was first known as Cass Bend due to a sharp bend along the Cass River, and a post office named Bridgeport began operating here on October 12, 1836 in the Michigan Territory. The name Bridgeport was derived from the numerous bridges that crossed the river at this point. The post office changed its name to Cass Bridge on January 30, 1864 but was later closed on January 30, 1904. The township itself also had a post office named Bridgeport Centre, which began operating on August 1, 1851. In 1880, this post office was renamed Bridgeport and has remained in operation ever since. The Bugai Site and Schmidt Site are restricted archaeological sites near Bridgeport. The State Street Bridge is a historic bridge constructed in 1906 across the Cass River. These three locations are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2025, the Candlelite Bowling Alley and Banquet Hall, which had closed due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, burned to the ground. The fire was bad enough to trigger a multi-alarm response from Bridgeport and neighboring fire departments, including from Frankenmuth, Birch Run, and the county seat in Saginaw. The cause of the fire was still under investigation, and was being overseen by the ATF.

Geography

According to the U.S Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (0.59%) is water. The community is located approximately halfway between the cities of Saginaw to the northwest and Frankenmuth to the east. The Cass River flows through the center of the community. * / runs south–north through the western portion of the community and has access points at Dixie Highway exit 144A and 144B.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,728
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,862
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  4,799
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  4,669
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  4,647
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,419
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,358
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,255