Founded in 1639, Stratford is a quiet, charming seaside town, rich in history and abundant natural beauty. Situated on Long Island Sound and bounded to the east by the Housatonic River, Stratford has 18 miles of coastline, three main beaches, five marinas, several fishing piers, two public boat launches, beautiful parks and recreational facilities. Within an hour drive of New York City, the Stratford is the eastern-most town in Fairfield County.

It is bordered on the west by Bridgeport, to the north by Trumbull and Shelton, and on the east by Milford. Stratford is a stop on the Metro-North New Haven Line, 59 miles east of Grand Central Terminal. Average travel time into Manhattan is about 90 minutes. Stratford has a historical legacy in aviation, the military, and theater. The diversity of the town's natural resources is as rich as its cultural heritage, ranging from the 250-acre town-owned Roosevelt Forest to the Great Meadows Salt Marsh. The Great Meadows Unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge is a key bird migration stopover. The open water area of the Great Salt Marsh is known as Lewis Gut. Stratford is home to the headquarters of Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin (LMT) subsidiary founded by Igor Sikorsky, developer of the first successful American helicopter. Every Marine One (the helicopter of the President of the United States) has been manufactured in Stratford since 1957.