Located in southwestern Connecticut, Stamford lies at the mouth of the Rippowam River on Long Island Sound. The city itself is built around a wide bay crossed by two tidal inlets. Stamford Harbor and Cove Harbor border a finger of land jutting into the bay. The city is situated on relatively flat land that is part of the Atlantic coastal plain. The serrated shoreline is connected by a series of bridges that carry automobile and rail traffic.
Stamford's New England weather is tempered by the city's proximity to Long Island Sound. Winters are milder, with less snow, than those of inland cities. Summers are warm, with moderate humidity.
Area: 38 square miles (2000)
Elevation: 34 feet above sea level
Average Temperatures: January, 29.3° F; July, 75.3° F; annual average, 51.9° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 49.46 inches