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Dartmouth, MA

Frequently asked questions

Dartmouth, MA

Dartmouth is a coastal town in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Old Dartmouth was the first area of Southeastern Massachusetts to be settled by Europeans, primarily English. Dartmouth is part of New England's farm coast, which consists of a chain of historic coastal villages, vineyards, and farms. June 8, 2014, marked the 350th year of Dartmouth's incorporation as a town. It is also part of the Massachusetts South Coast. The local weekly newspapers are The Dartmouth/Westport Chronicle and Dartmouth Week. The Portuguese municipality of Lagoa is twinned with the town; along with several other Massachusetts and Rhode Island towns and cities around Bristol County.

The northern part of Dartmouth has the town's large commercial districts. The southern part of town abuts Buzzards Bay, and there are several other waterways, including Lake Noquochoke, Cornell Pond, Slocums River, Shingle Island River, and Paskamansett River. The town has several working farms and one vineyard, which is part of the Coastal Wine Tour. With a thriving agricultural heritage, the town and state have protected many of the working farms.

The southern part of Dartmouth borders Buzzards Bay, where a lively fishing and boating community thrives; off its coast, the Elizabeth Islands and Cuttyhunk can be seen. The New Bedford Yacht Club in Padanaram hosts a bi-annual regatta. The town's unique historic villages and selection of coastal real estate have made it a destination for generations as a summering community. Notable affluent sections within South Dartmouth are Nonquitt, Round Hill, Barney's Joy, and Mishaum Point. It also has many year-round residents and a variety of activities throughout the year. As of the 2020 census, the year-round population of Dartmouth was 33,783.

Dartmouth is the third-largest town (by land area) in Massachusetts, after Plymouth and Middleborough. The distance from Dartmouth's northernmost border with Freetown to Buzzards Bay in the south is approximately 16 miles (26 km). The villages of Hixville, Bliss Corner, Padanaram, Smith Mills, and Russells Mills are located within the town. Dartmouth shares borders with Westport to the west, Freetown and Fall River to the north, Buzzards Bay to the south, and New Bedford to the east. Boat shuttles provide regular transportation daily to Martha's Vineyard and Cuttyhunk Island.

Catholic churches in Dartmouth are part of the Diocese of Fall River in the New Bedford Deanery. Catholic Churches in Dartmouth include St. Mary's Parish which was founded in 1930 as a country Parish before growing to fulfill the needs of the town. St. Julie Billiart Parish which was established in 1969 is Directly Adjacent to Bishop Stang High School, a Catholic High School. And St. George Parish in Westport, Massachusetts also covers portions of the town of Dartmouth and was founded in 1914.

The origin of the name is considered to be named after Dartmouth, England. This could have been because Bartholomew Gosnold, the first European to explore the land, sailed to America on a ship from Dartmouth in England. It could have been also named Dartmouth to commemorate when the Pilgrims stopped in Dartmouth for ship repairs.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 97.5 square miles (252.6 km2). 60.9 square miles (157.8 km2) of it is land and 94.8 square kilometers (36.6 sq mi) of it, 37.53%, is water. It is the third-largest town by area in Massachusetts. The town is accessible by Interstate 195 and U.S. Route 6, which run parallel to each other through the northern main business part of town from New Bedford to Westport on an east-west axis within a mile or two apart from one another.

Dartmouth includes the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve that extends from Fall River into many protected forests of North Dartmouth in the Collins Corner, Faunce Corner, and Hixville sections of town. The Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve extends its protected forest lands into the Freetown-Fall River State Forest and beyond. Many rivers flow north-south in Dartmouth, such as the Copicut River, Shingle Island River, Paskamanset River, Slocums River, Destruction Brook, and Little River. Dartmouth is divided into two primary sections: North Dartmouth (USPS ZIP code 02747) and South Dartmouth (USPS ZIP code 02748). The town is bordered by Westport to the west, New Bedford to the east, Fall River and Freetown to the north, and Buzzards Bay/the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The highest point in the town is near its northwest corner, where the elevation rises to over 256 feet (78 m) above sea level north of Old Fall River Road.

Dartmouth places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Women & Infants Hospital and Hawthorn Medical Associates offer comprehensive medical services to ensure your health needs are met. Join fitness classes or access gym equipment at Dartmouth Total Fitness and Planet Fitness. Explore over 40 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and nature walks, promoting outdoor fitness and mental rejuvenation at Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust. Practice yoga for physical and mental health at places like Open Doors Yoga. Engage in team sports or recreational leagues offered by Dartmouth Parks and Recreation

Top sites in Dartmouth, MA are House of Rage LLC, Dartmouth Mall, AMC Dartmouth Mall 11, and DNRT Frank Knowles/Little River Reserve.

Population: 33,419 (2023). ZIP codes: 02748, 02747, 02714. Area codes: 508/774. Elevation: 125 ft (38 m). Area: 97.5 square miles (252.6 km2).

FAQs

Is Dartmouth MA a good place to live?

Dartmouth is in Bristol County. Living in Dartmouth offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Dartmouth, there are a lot of coffee shops and parks. Many young professionals and retirees live in Dartmouth and residents tend to lean liberal. The public schools in Dartmouth are highly rated.

What is Dartmouth, MA famous for?

Dartmouth’s present economy is based on tourism and other service-related activities, as well as on light manufacturing. It is the site of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (1895). The township includes the resort villages of North Dartmouth and South Dartmouth, as well as the communities of Bliss Corner and Smith Mills. Demarest Lloyd State Park faces Buzzards Bay.

What is the crime rate in Dartmouth, MA?

The crime rate in Dartmouth is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 17 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Dartmouth is 1 in 61. Based on FBI crime data, Dartmouth is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Massachusetts, Dartmouth has a crime rate that is higher than 90% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

Town of Dartmouth

Niche

Britannica

Neighborhood Scout

House of Rage LLC 

Dartmouth Mall 

AMC Dartmouth Mall 11 

DNRT Frank Knowles/Little River Reserve

Women & Infants Hospital

Hawthorn Medical Associates

Dartmouth Total Fitness

Planet Fitness

Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust

Open Doors Yoga

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