A summer day. You wander down to Gulf Beach. The seagulls beg for a handout. A gentle breeze blows offshore. You walk out on the rock jetty. Fishermen try their luck. A fleet of sailboats race out of the harbor. Later the sun sets behind the Milford Yacht Club. Contentment.
Welcome to Milford, "A Small City with a Big Heart!" Strolling through downtown you get that small town feeling coupled with the charm and the sense of history of an English settlement dating from 1639. Walk over the Hotchkiss Bridge, gaze at the gorge framed by the arch of the Memorial Bridge, stop for an ice cream cone, and rent a bike and tour, then return for a lobster dinner. Or you might opt for a romantic night in a classic New England Inn.
Rounding out our unparalleled quality of life is a strong retail community that provides shoppers with all aspects of consumer goods. From Westfield's Connecticut Post Mall recent expansion that included Target, Dick's, Borders and a 14-screen Cinema De Lux in a total of 1.5 million s/f, to Milford Crossing anchored by Wal-Mart and Barnes & Noble with a total of 400,000 s/f, to Milford Marketplace with its 100,000 s/f of upscale shops to the varied and diverse shopping opportunities of our smaller retailers - the city offers all. Soon to be completed is a 25-acre development featuring Lowe's Home Improvement Center and a Hilton Garden Inn. Boasting an ever-expanding automobile row, furniture stores including a recently announced addition of an 80,000 s/f Pilgrim Furniture City, specialty shops, restaurants and hotels, Milford is ready to fulfill all types of consumer requirements.
Seventeen miles of Long Island Sound coastline funnel into our harbor that wends its way to meet the Wepawaug River in the heart of town. The sixth oldest town in Connecticut, 55,000 residents are proud to boast of a meticulously maintained town green, the second longest in New England. Multiple memorials in honor of those who have served in past conflicts parade down the greenway. A memorial bridge provides a stone passageway to the history of our ancestors.
Just an hour north of New York City, Milford is easily accessible for both travelers and commuters. Served by major highway systems, vehicle access is obtained by I-95, the Merritt/Wilbur Cross Pkwy. (Rte. 15), and Boston Post Rd. (U.S. 1). MetroNorth and Amtrak to New York and beyond begin at the station in downtown Milford. New York boaters enjoy crossing Long Island Sound to stay at Milford Landing Marina. There is also a ferry crossing from Port Jefferson, L.I. to Bridgeport with train access to downtown.
Major international airports JFK and LaGuardia in New York and Bradley in Connecticut are within an hour and one-half drive. Locally Tweed-New Haven Airport offers regional service. Limousine services are available to all locations. The Milford Transit District provides local bus service as well as connecting to other communities with the Coastal Corridor Link.
A feeling of "Milford Pride", along with ample cultural, recreational, educational and employment opportunities make the city more than just a great place to visit. Many high quality arts and crafts shows, varied festivals and events make Milford a destination for day-trippers. Water recreation abounds with access from boat launches, the Lisman Landing Marina, multiple city beaches, and Silver Sands State Park. The Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center at Milford Point offers views of the estuary and Long Island Sound and their inhabitants and an educational program to explain all. The new architecturally awarded addition to Milford Hospital provides for health care needs as it has for the last 80 years.
A diversified economy supports manufacturing, retail, corporate office and a service industry. Unemployment is at an all-time low. Home to manufacturers of consumer products, fabricated metals, plastics, as well as dot.com, investment, and hi-tech firms, Milford welcomes all to its corporate, research and industrial parks.