During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many European immigrants moved to Bridgeport to work in the city's many large-scale industrial facilities.[2] Many Italian arrivals during this time clustered together in the city's Central End and North End, particularly around Madison Avenue.[1][3]
Present day
The area around Madison Avenue is still referred to as "Little Italy", and remains home to many Italian restaurants.[4] However, in recent years, many of the neighborhood's Italian restaurants have moved to surrounding towns following the de-industrialization of Bridgeport.[4] The area now also has a significant Portuguese population.[1]