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New Bedford, MA

Frequently asked questions

New Bedford, MA

New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast region. Up through the 17th century, the area was the territory of the Wampanoag Native American people. English colonists bought the land on which New Bedford would later be built from the Wampanoag in 1652, and the original colonial settlement that would later become the city was founded by English Quakers in the late 17th century. The town of New Bedford itself was officially incorporated in 1787.

During the first half of the 19th century, New Bedford was one of the world's most important whaling ports. At its economic height during this period, New Bedford was the wealthiest city in North America per capita. New Bedford was also a center of abolitionism at this time. The city attracted many freed or escaped African-American slaves, including Frederick Douglass, who lived there from 1838 until 1841. The city also served as a setting in Herman Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick. From 1876 to 1900, New Bedford served as the initial home port for the Revenue Cutter School of Instruction, the precursor of the United States Coast Guard Academy.

At the 2020 U.S. census, New Bedford had a population of 101,079, making it the state's ninth-largest city and the largest of the South Coast region. The city is also known for its high concentration of Portuguese Americans. New Bedford remains known for its fishing fleet and accompanying seafood industry, which as of 2019 generated the highest annual value of any fishing port in the United States. The city is also home to the New Bedford Whaling Museum and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.

New Bedford is located at 41°39′06″N 70°56′01″W (41.651803, −70.933705). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.1 square miles (62.5 km2). Of the total area, 20.0 square miles (51.8 km2) is land, and 4.1 square miles (10.7 km2), or 17.13%, is water. New Bedford is a coastal city, a seaport, bordered on the west by Dartmouth, on the north by Freetown, on the east by Acushnet and Fairhaven, and the south by Buzzards Bay. From New Bedford's northern border with Freetown to the Buzzards Bay coast at Clark's Point, the distance is approximately 14 miles (23 km). Across New Bedford east to west is a distance of about 2 miles (3.2 km). The highest point in the city is an unnamed hill crossed by Interstate 195 and Hathaway Road west of downtown, with an elevation greater than 180 feet (55 m) above sea level.

The Port of New Bedford, also known as New Bedford Harbor, a body of water shared with Fairhaven, is the estuary of the Acushnet River where it empties into Buzzards Bay. The river empties into the bay beyond Clark's Point, the southernmost point of the city. To the west of Clark's Point is Clark's Cove, which extends landward approximately one and a half miles from the bay. Just south of Palmer's Island, beginning near Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, lies a two-mile-long hurricane barrier, constructed in the 1960s to protect the inner harbor where the fishing fleet anchors. Along with Palmer's Island, the city also lays claim to Fish Island and Pope's Island. Between these two islands lies one of the three sections, the central section, of the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge. The central span, a swing bridge, connects the two islands as well as allowing boats and ships passage to the upper harbor. Two conventional bridges connect each of the islands to the nearest mainland, Fish Island to New Bedford and Pope's Island to Fairhaven. In addition to the harbor, there are several small brooks and ponds within the city limits. 

New Bedford places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Since its opening in 1884, St. Luke’s Hospital has been a leading healthcare provider in southeastern Massachusetts, providing the highest quality care with compassion and respect. In 2007 Liteweights Fitness was established in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It has helped change the lives of thousands of individuals with various weight loss and fitness goals.  Engage in meditation and yoga sessions every third Sunday at the New Bedford Wellness Initiative. Practice yoga in a supportive community environment at Ritual Sweat Society. Tone and sculpt your body with barre workouts offered at The Barre Studio. Enjoy indoor climbing sessions for a full-body workout and fun experience at Carabiner’s. Relax and rejuvenate with therapeutic massage sessions at Maha Massage Therapy. 
 

Top Sites in New Bedford, MA: New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Fort Rodman, and Buttonwood Park Zoo.
 

Population: 100,682 (2022). ZIP Code: 02740, 02744, 02745, 02746. Area code: 508 / 774. Elevation: 50 ft (15 m). Area: 24.13 sq mi (62.50 km2).

FAQs

Is New Bedford, MA a nice area?

New Bedford is a with a population of 100,620. New Bedford is in Bristol County. Living in New Bedford offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents rent their homes. In New Bedford, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families live in New Bedford and residents tend to be liberal.

What is New Bedford, MA famous for?

Once known as the “City That Lit the World’’ because of its whaling industry, New Bedford is on the way to becoming the “City That Kept the Lights On.’’ New Bedford was once the busy international port city Herman Melville immortalized in “Moby-Dick’’ (the 163d anniversary of its first publication was Oct. 18). The restored downtown has a busy, optimistic feel, with a steady stream of visitors enjoying the look of historic buildings, cobblestone streets, museums, galleries, and well-placed green spots. On the streets of the very walkable downtown, the New Bedford Whaling Museum welcomes visitors with suspended skeletons of the world’s largest creatures, a model whaling ship, and art, science, and interactive exhibits.

Is New Bedford expensive to live in?

New Bedford is part of the Providence-Warwick -MA Metro metro area, which is ranked 48 out of 273 cities across the US in terms of cost of living. According to C2ER (the Council for Community and Economic Research), the cost of living in New Bedford is estimated to be 110.5% of the national average making it one of the more expensive cities in the US. The cost of living in New Bedford is 110.5% of the national average.

Sources

City of New Bedford

Wikipedia

Niche

Zero Down

Boston

New Bedford Whaling Museum 

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

Fort Rodman 

Buttonwood Park Zoo

St. Luke’s Hospital

Liteweights Fitness

New Bedford Wellness Initiative

Ritual Sweat Society

The Barre Studio

Carabiner’s

Maha Massage Therapy

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.