New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located about 51 miles (82 kilometers) south of Boston, 28 miles (45 kilometers) southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about 12 miles (19 kilometers) east of Fall River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 93,768. It is the seventh largest city in the state. New Bedford is nicknamed "The Whaling City" due to the fact that it was one of the most important ports for the whaling industry. The city is considered one of the two major cities along the area of Massachusetts known as the South Coast (along with Fall River). The mayor of New Bedford is Scott W. Lang.

History

Early history

Before the 1600s, the Wampanoags, who had settlements throughout southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, were the only inhabitants of the lands along the Acushnet River. Their population is believed to have been about 12,000. While exploring New England, Bartholomew Gosnold landed on Cuttyhunk island on May 15, 1602. From there, he explored Cape Cod and the neighboring areas, including present-day New Bedford. However, rather than settle the area, he returned to England at the request of his crew.

Europeans first settled New Bedford in 1652. Plymouth Colony settlers purchased the land from chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag tribe. Whether or not the transfer of the land was legitimately done is a matter of debate; the tribe claims that they were unaware at the time that the land would be taken from them permanently. The settlers used the land to build the colonial town of Old Dartmouth (which encompassed not only present-day Dartmouth, but also present-day New Bedford, Acushnet, Fairhaven, and Westport). A section of Old Dartmouth near the west bank of the Acushnet River, originally called Bedford Village, was officially incorporated as the town of New Bedford in 1787. The name was suggested by the Russell family, who were prominent citizens of the community. It comes from the fact that the Dukes of Bedford, a leading English aristocratic house, also bore the surname Russell. (Bedford, Massachusetts had already been incorporated by 1787; hence "New" Bedford.)

The late 18th century was a time of growth for the town. New Bedford's first newspaper, The Medley (also known as New Bedford Marine Journal), came into being in 1792. On June 12, 1792, the town set up its first post office with William Tobey as its first postmaster. The creation of a bridge (originally a toll bridge) between New Bedford and present-day Fairhaven in 1796 also spurred growth. (Fairhaven separated from New Bedford in 1812, forming an independent town that included both present-day Fairhaven and present-day Acushnet.) The town of New Bedford officially became a city in 1847; Abraham Hathaway Howland was elected to be its first mayor. 

Immigration to New Bedford

Prior to 1800, New Bedford and its surrounding communities were, by and large, populated by Protestants of English, Scottish, and Welsh origin. During the first half of the nineteenth century, however, a large wave of Irish people came to Massachusetts.

In 1818, Irish immigrants established the Catholic mission that built St. Mary's Church. Later in that century, immigrants from Portugal and its dependent territories of the Azores, Cape Verde and Madeira began arriving in New Bedford and the surrounding area, largely because of the whaling industry. As the Portuguese community began to increase, they established the first Portuguese parish in the city, St. John the Baptist (1871). The French (chiefly French-Canadian) also secured a foothold in New Bedford at about the same time, and they built the Church of the Sacred Heart in 1877.

Similarly, Polish-Americans established the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in 1903. A number of Jewish families, arriving in the late 19th century, were active in the whaling industry, selling provisions and outfitting ships. During the years leading up to the First World War, a sizable eastern-European Jewish community joined them in New Bedford, many of whom became prominent merchants and businessmen, mainly in textiles and manufacturing.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 62.2 square kilometers (24.0 square miles). Of the total area, 20.1 square miles (52.1 km²) is land, and 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²)(16.23%) 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 on the south by Buzzards Bay.

New Bedford Harbor is actually 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 mile from the bay. Just south of Palmers Island, even with Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, lies a hurricane barrier, constructed in the twentieth century to protect the inner harbor, where the fishing fleets are anchored. Along with Palmer's Island, the city also lays claim to Fish Island and Pope's Island, between which the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge spans the harbor. Two immobile bridges span to the mainland, making the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge the only entryway for boats anchoring north of the islands. In addition to the harbors, there are several small brooks and ponds within the city limits.

There are several parks and playgrounds located throughout the city, the largest being Brooklawn Park in the north end, Fort Taber Park (also referred to as Fort Rodman, the name of another fort built there) at Clark's Point, and Buttonwood Park, directly west of the downtown area near the Dartmouth town line. Buttonwood Park is also the site of a lagood which feeds into Buttonwood Brook, and the Buttonwood Zoo. In the northwest part of the town, extending into Dartmouth, lies the Acushnet Cedar Swamp State Reservation.

Transportation

At least three private ferry services originate at New Bedford. As of 2006, New England Fast Ferry company offers fast catamaran ferry service between New Bedford and Martha's Vineyard; and the Cuttyhunk Ferry Company runs scheduled ferry services to Cuttyhunk Island. Ferry service from New Bedford dates back to May 15, 1818, when the steamboat The Eagle carried 600 passengers across the Nantucket Sound.

Highways I-195 and US 6 run from east to west through the city. US 6 leaves the city over the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge, a swing truss bridge, and the Popes Island Bridge. New Bedford is the southern terminus of MA 140, which is a freeway from MA 24. MA 18, also known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, is a freeway for the short stretch connecting I-195 to US 6 and the port area.

The Port of New Bedford serves as a break-bulk handler of perishable items, including fruit and fish; the port also handles other cargo. For 2006, the port expected upwards of 30 cruise ship calls. One public and several private marinas offer limited transient dockage for recreational boats. As of November, 2005, the port is the top U.S. fishing port in terms of dollar value of catch.

New Bedford Regional Airport, a towered airport offering two 5000-foot runways and a precision instrument landing system, is located in the central portion of the city with easy access to highways. Frequent scheduled passenger service is provided to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard by Cape Air, and scheduled cargo service to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard by Boston-Maine Airways. Charter services, including seaplane charters, are available for destinations throughout the southern New England/New York region. In addition, the airport provides a range of general aviation and corporate jet services including aircraft maintenance facilities and flight instruction.

The city bus terminal offers local and long distance bus connections. A free shuttle bus connects the bus terminal and the ferries. The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) provides bus service between the city, Fall River, and the surrounding regions. As of October, 2006, private carrier DATTCO provides daily commuter bus service to Boston via Taunton. Private carrier Peter Pan Bus Lines no longer offers bus service to Boston.

The MBTA has proposed providing commuter rail service to the city. As of May 14, 2006, total capital costs for commuter rail service to New Bedford were projected to be $800 million, and the project has not yet been funded by the state; which is still reeling financially from the financial excesses of the Big Dig project in Boston. CSX Transportation (formerly Conrail) provides freight rail service to New Bedford, terminating at the New Bedford Rail Yard in the port area.

As of April 6, 2007, Governor Deval Patrick has proposed a 1.6 billion dollar plan to bring commuter rail service to New Bedford and Fall River. 

Government

State and National Government

New Bedford is represented by four state representatives, representing the Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth districts. The Ninth includes Dartmouth, as well as parts of Freetown and Lakeville; the Thirteenth includes parts of Freetown, Lakeville and Middleborough; and the Eleventh and Twelfth are both entirely within New Bedford. The city is represented in the state senate, by Senator Mark C.W. Montigny, in the Second Bristol and Plymouth district, which includes the towns of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven and Mattapoisett. New Bedford is patrolled by the Third Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police, located nearby in Dartmouth. On the national level, the city is part of Massachusetts Congressional District 4, which is represented by Barney Frank. The state's senior (Class I) Senator, re-elected in 2006, is Edward M. Kennedy, and the state's junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, is John F. Kerry.

City Government and Services

New Bedford is governed by a Mayor-Council form of government. The mayor is currently Attorney Scott Lang, who was elected over incumbent Frederick Kalisz in 2006. He is a Democrat, and has been critical of the politics of the Kalisz administration, a platform which aided in his election.

The New Bedford Police Department patrols the city from four stations. The main station is located on Rockdale Avenue in a converted supermarket plaza and replaces the former headquarters located downtown). There are also branches in the North End (at the intersection of Tarkiln Hill Road and Ashley Boulevard), South End (along Cove Street near the end of Route 18), and Downtown (on Pleasant Street near City Hall).

The Fire Department is full-time, and has seven firehouses distributed around the city. The Fire Department headquarters (sta. #2) is located on Purchase Street in the downtown district which houses administrative offices of the department as well as personnel.

There are four post offices, the Central (a scaled replica of New York's Penn Station Post Office) located downtown, one located in the South End, and two more located in the North End. The city formerly operated a trash dump located in the Mount Pleasant area of town between the regional airport and the Whaling City Golf Course. However, due to pollution concerns, the dump was closed in the 1990s.

Education

As of the 2006-07 academic year, the New Bedford school district, under the direction of Superintendent Michael Longo, is one of several in Massachusetts labeled as "underperforming" under the state's MCAS guidelines. The school system, like that of nearby Fall River, is also in the process of major school upgrades and consolidations, having rebuilt several of its schools in recent years. The most recent, Keith Middle School, made headlines for the problems involved in the cleanup of the polluted ground soil on the site.

The school district, headquartered in the former high school building on County Street, is made up of twenty-eight schools, including:

Elementary Schools

• Charles S. Ashley Elementary
• Elizabeth Carter Brooks Elementary
• Elwyn G. Campbell Elementary
• Sgt. William H. Carney Academy
• James B. Congdon Elementary
• John B. DeValles Elementary
• George H. Dunbar Elementary
• Alfred J. Gomes Elementary
• Ellen R. Hathaway Elementary
• John Hannigan Elementary
• Hayden-McFadden Elementary
• Horatio A. Kempton Elementary
• Abraham Lincoln Elementary
• Sarah D. Ottiwell Elementary
• Carlos Pacheco Elementary
• John Avery Parker Elementary
• Phillips Avenue Elementary
• Casimir Pulaski Elementary
• Thomas R. Rodman Elementary
• Jireh Swift Elementary
• William H. Taylor Elementary
• Betsey B. Winslow Elementary
• John B. Devalles Elementary

Middle Schools

• Keith Middle School - serving the central part of the city - NOTE: The Keith Middle School was built on top of the cities former dump. Buried under the school, beneath 3 feet of dirt and two warning barriers PCB's and other chemicals dumped there still reside. The government maintains the safety of the cap while community activists Brian Wooley, Eddie Johnson and Evan Rousseau maintain that this will become a problem. The school is 70 million dollars over budget and was paid for via a special deal which will prevent a greater replacement of grade schools throughout the city.
• Normandin Middle School - serving the North End, named for a French doctor from the school's area
• Roosevelt Middle School - serving the South End

High School
New Bedford High School is one of the largest high schools in the state. The school colors are red and white and the school mascot is a whale. The school fight song, "On, New Bedford!," is sung to the tune of "On, Wisconsin!."

The school's athletic teams are named the "Whalers," in honor of the city's whaling legacy and compete in the MIAA's Division I. The athletics teams have always been regularly dominant in regional and state competitions and in recent years the wrestling teams, men and women soccer teams, men and women volleyball teams, and men's basketball teams have all come out on top. Traditionally, New Bedford High School has had an intense rivalry with Fall River's B.M.C. Durfee High School. Their Thanksgiving Day football match-up has been played over one hundred times.

New Bedford High school has had a long tradition of excellence in the arts regionally, state-wide, and nationally with its award-winning drama club, choral program [including show choir], jazz ensemble and whaler marching band. Stretching as far back as over the past 20 years. The New Bedford High School drama club was awarded the Moss Hart Award [named after the famous playwright and director] as presented by his widow, Kitty Carlisle-Hart. The choral program excelled earning 1st place in the Massachusetts All-States Choral competition. The marching band has been successful over the past several years, having won 1st place in regional, state and national championships.

Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School New Bedford is also the home to Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School, a large vocational high school serving New Bedford, Dartmouth and Fairhaven. Its teams are called the "Bears," and wear green and gold.

Other Public Schools In addition, the school operates an alternative junior-senior high school, West Side High School, out of the original New Bedford Vocational High School building. There is also a charter school, the Global Learning Charter School, which serves grades 6-12.

Other Schools
There are seven Catholic schools within the city. Many of the students who attend these schools go on to attend Bishop Stang High School in neighboring Dartmouth. There are also two preschools and the Nazarene Christian Academy, a school operated by the Church of the Nazarene. The city also is the site of the marine campus of University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (located at Fort Rodman) as well as its satellite visual art campus located in the former Star Store building downtown.

Higher Education
New Bedford is also home to one of Fisher College's neighborhood campuses. Located on Church Street in the north end of the city, they serve adult learners from the greater New Bedford region and the surrounding communities of Taunton, Wareham, and Fall River.

Closed Schools Two Catholic high schools closed recently: Saint Anthony High in 1978, and Holy Family High School, which closed in 1984. Both schools were small in registrations but were considered by some to be influential in New Bedford's 20th century culture. As of the end of the 2006/2007 school year, Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel, located on Crapo St in the cities South End, had closed down due to financial difficulties.

Demographics

The city is a part of the Providence metropolitan area.

As of the census of 2000, there were 93,768 people, 38,178 households, and 24,090 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,660 people per square mile (1,799/km²). There were 41,511 housing units at an average density of 2,063/sq mi (797/km²).

There were 38,178 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 18.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,569, and the median income for a family was $35,708. Males had a median income of $31,388 versus $22,278 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,602. About 17.3% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Historic

The economy of the Pilgrim settlement in the New Bedford area was initially based around a few farming and fishing villages. The early Bedford Village quickly became a commercial zone and from there became a major whaling and foreign trade port. In the early 1700s, the Russell family purchased this area and developed it into a larger village (Joseph Russell III having made the most significant contributions). By the 18th century, entrepreneurs in the area, such as whaling merchants from Nantucket, were attracted to the village and helped make it into one of the top whaling cities in the country. The most significant of these merchants was Joseph Rotch, who bought 10 acres (four hectares) of land in 1765 from Joseph Russell III on which he and his sons ran the family business. Rotch moved his business to New Bedford since it would be better for refining whale oil and manufacturing candles made from whales. As these parts of the whaling industry had been monopolized by a merchant cartel in Boston, Newport, Rhode Island, and Providence, Rhode Island, Rotch felt that it would be better for business to handle these himself by moving to the mainland.

The relationship between New Bedford and Nantucket allowed the two cities to dominate the whaling industry. In 1848 Lewis Temple invented the toggle harpoon, an invention that would revolutionize the whaling industry. This helped make New Bedford more powerful than Nantucket, thus making it the most powerful city in the whaling industry. As a result of its control over whaling products that were used widely throughout the world (most importantly whale oil), New Bedford became one of the richest per capita cities in the world.

Many whalers would quit their jobs in 1849, though, as the Gold Rush attracted many of them to leave New Bedford for California. During this time Herman Melville, who worked in New Bedford as a whaler, wrote the novel Moby-Dick and published it in 1851; the city would be the initial setting of the book, including a scene set in the Seaman's Bethel, which still stands today. Despite the power it gave to New Bedford, the whaling industry began to decline starting in 1859 when petroleum, which would become a popular alternative to whale oil, was discovered. Whaling in New Bedford eventually came to a halt in 1925, with the last whaling expedition being made by the John R. Manta schooner.

New Bedford was able to remain wealthy due to its textile industry. Starting in 1881, the textile industry grew large enough to sustain the city's economy. The creation of the New Bedford Textile School in 1895–1899 ushered in an era of textile prosperity that began to decline in the great depression and ended with the end of the textile period in the 1940s.

At its height, though, over 30,000 people were employed by the 32 cotton-manufacturing companies that owned the textile factories of New Bedford (which were worth one hundred million dollars in total).

Tool and die operations also left the area steadily, starting in the 1970s.

Until the mid-1990s New Bedford was home to a thriving commercial fishing community that fished Georges Bank, but in 1996 action was taken to reduce over-fishing, which devastated commercial fishing in the area.

Modern

Fishing and manufacturing continue to be two of the largest businesses in the area, and healthcare has become a major employer. The three largest single employers based in New Bedford are Southcoast Hospitals Group, one of the top ten employers in Massachusetts (healthcare), Titleist (miscellaneous manufacturing), and Riverside Manufacturing (apparel manufacturing).

While accurate figures are hard to come by, tourism appears to be a growing industry. New Bedford tourism centers on fairs and festivals including the Summerfest Folk Music and Arts Festival, the traditional Blessing of the Fleet, and the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament (the largest Portuguese cultural celebration in the nation). Tourism also focuses on the historic whaling industry, and the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is the only national park unit that focuses on the whaling industry's impact on the history of the United States.

According to a 2001 study by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Policy Analysis, the three largest employment sectors in the Greater New Bedford area (the area includes New Bedford and Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, and Wareham) were as follows: services (26% of total employment); wholesale trade (22%); manufacturing (19%). The largest industries by employment in the area were as follows: health services, eating and drinking places, wholesale trade, food stores, and social services.

In 2002, the city received $61,194,358 in taxation revenue, $44,536,201 in local receipts, and $12,044,152 classified as other available.

In 2005 the unemployment rate was 7.3%, having dropped throughout the 1990s from 12.5% to 5.3% in 2000, and then having risen to 10.4% in 2003.

In 2005, the city received $104,925,772 for education, and $22,755,439 for general government from the State of Massachusetts.

Culture

Entertainment

New Bedford has had a sporadic history of successful musicians. During the 1970s, the Tavares, a soul music group made up of five brothers from New Bedford, became a chart topping success with such songs as "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" and "More Than a Woman". In 1999, the pop group LFO (Lyte Funky Ones), whose group member Harold "Devin" Lima is from New Bedford, had a hit single with their song "Summer Girls". National Recording Heavy Metal Group Slight Of Mind founding members Gary (Garcia) Gordon, and Hank (The Hankster) Perry are also Natives of New Bedford, MA. Most recently, the hardcore punk band A Wilhelm Scream has gained some success, having been added to the 2005 Warped Tour lineup. Josh Newton of From Autumn To Ashes and Every Time I Die is a New Bedford native.

In 2002, the movie Passionada was filmed in New Bedford, making it the first film to be shot in the city in 45 years. Previously, film director John Huston shot a scene for the movie adaptation of Moby-Dick in front of Seamen's Bethel in 1956. However, all other exterior shots for New Bedford in the film were shot in Youghal instead.

Candida Rose - is a popular singer extensively used at political and community events. She is a very talented vocalist who is following the family tradition of music. Her daughter too is an accomplished vocal artist. Candita specializes in the sound of the Cape Verde Islands. She can be seen on YouTube.

Points of interest

The New Bedford Armory is rumored to be haunted. This rumor was the subject of the November 17, 2004 episode of the TV series Ghost Hunters.

The same goes for a 100-year-long-run park ironically named "Lincoln Park". The entrance by car is rocky and recommended for four-wheel-drive. The park closed in 1986 and subject to many deaths, including a worker falling off the "Comet" rollercoaster and is the only ride that is still standing. You can see the rollercoaster from the highway bordering the park.

Museums

New Bedford is the home of The New Bedford Whaling Museum, the centerpiece of the Whaling National Historical Park. It is the country's largest museum on the subject of whaling and the history of interaction between humans and whales. The Museum has large skeletons of a 66-foot-long baby blue whale (obtained in 2000), a 35-foot-long adult humpback whale (obtained in 1900), and a 45-foot-long sperm whale (obtained in 2004) on display. All whales died in New England waters and were cleaned and assembled for display.

The Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, is a 28-room Greek Revival mansion was built for whaling merchant William Rotch, Jr. in 1834. Between 1834–1981 three prominent families owned the House and chronicles 150 years of economic, social, and domestic life in New Bedford. The House and grounds can be toured and also rented for events. Weddings are popular in the rose garden. The Rotch-Jones-Duff House also has a summer concert series. It also hosts an annual "Cookie Contest."

The New Bedford Art Museum is located in the heart of New Bedford's historic downtown. The Museum offers engaging exhibitions of artwork from around the corner and across the ocean. Not far from it is Gallery X, a community art gallery.

Parks

• Ashley Park
• Buttonwood Park (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted) and Buttonwood Park Zoo
• Brooklawn Park
• Clasky Common
• Fort Taber Playground
• Hazelwood Park - located in the South End, the park overlooks the beaches of Clark's Cove, and is enjoyed for the unique game of Bowls, or bowling on the green.
• Prince Henry the Navigator Park - located on Pope's Island.
• Riverside Playground

Notable residents

• Anthony Athanas: Albanian immigrant who founded Anthony's Pier 4, a renowned restaurant in Boston that has played host to U.S. Presidents, artists, writers, and entertainers of international fame.
• James Arnold: Whaling merchant whose estate is now the Wamsutta Club in New Bedford. Donated his fortune to create the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.
• Joseph Bates (Adventist): Seventh-Day Adventist pioneer.
• Albert Bierstadt: 19th century German-born artist whose depictions of the American West were well known throughout the country.
• Frederick Douglass: 19th century abolitionist and editor.
• Warren Eisenberg: Co-founder of Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
• William Greenleaf Eliot: Co-founder and benefactor of Washington University of St. Louis. Grandfather of T. S. Eliot.
• Marie Equi: 19th century doctor, labor activist, anarchist and Wobbly.
• Hetty Green: Prominent businesswoman, one of the wealthiest women in America. Amassed a significant fortune from the stock market in the late 19th century.
• Carol Haney: Choreographer, principal assistant to Gene Kelly, and worked on Singin' in the Rain.
• Allen Haskell: World-renowned horticulturist. His clients included the White House, the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and the royal family of Holland.
• Brian Helgeland: Screenplay writer of Mystic River, Conspiracy Theory, and L.A. Confidential fame.
• Irwin M. Jacobs: Founder and CEO of San Diego-based Qualcomm. Pioneer of mobile phone CDMA digital wireless technology.
• Albert Pinkham Ryder: 19th century painter best known for his poetic and moody allegorical works and seascapes, as well as his eccentric personality.
• Harry Stovey: 19th century professional baseball great. A strong home-run hitter and one of the first to slide feet-first.
• John Tukey: Statistician whose usage of the term "software" and "bit" are believed to be the first in written history.