Welcome To New Bedford
Our parish’s home - New Bedford - is located on the south coast of Massachusetts. It is a city with a vibrant industrial, social, and cultural history. In 1841, Herman Melville set out from New Bedford aboard the whaling ship Acushnet on a journey which later inspired him to write the novel Moby-Dick. New Bedford was once the whaling capital of the world, and today is still the most valuable fishing port in the country.
With a significant Quaker population, New Bedford was known for its abolitionist leanings and was a stop on the Underground Railroad; Frederick Douglass made his home here for many years.
New Bedford has a total area of 24.1 square miles and a population of 100,941. The residents of the city come from diverse cultural backgrounds adding a richness to the city's fabric. New Bedford is located just 54 miles south of Boston and 33 miles east of Providence, RI. Traveling by ferry, New Bedford has direct service to both Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Grace Church is on the doorstep of the historic downtown area, which has been undergoing a revitalization in recent years. There are many unique and locally owned shops, restaurants, and galleries. The world-renowned New Bedford Whaling Museum is a wealth of knowledge and resources for learning about our city’s past. It is within the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park which attracts a broad and diverse audience to explore the history, architecture, arts, and culture of the city. The Zeiterion Theater is home to the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and Festival Theater.
New Bedford’s coastal location offers many opportunities for outdoor activities as well. The Harbor Walk is a 2.5-mile paved path along the harbor, connecting two beaches and the historic Fort Taber. Water sports, especially sport fishing and sailing, are popular and the area provides easy access to many beaches, hiking areas, and wildlife reserves.
Once a year the city hosts the New Bedford Half Marathon, which draws runners from across the country. The Cape Verdean Recognition Day parade and the Portuguese Feast of the Blessed Sacrament bring far-flung families home to New Bedford to celebrate these iconic cultural events. Recently, New Bedford has become a major asset as the offshore wind industry, like other sustainable energy endeavors, has begun to grow. Offshore wind promises to provide thousands of jobs in the area and will be a huge economic opportunity for the city and its residents.
From the 97-acre Buttonwood Park & Zoo in the heart of the city to the urban murals featured prominently on downtown buildings, every inch of New Bedford boasts its individuality and cultural diversity. New Bedford has been a recent topic of both Boston Globe and New York Times articles, being called “a shining sea of possibilities”.
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