This vision of New Bedford is one that began nearly 250 years ago. In the mid-1700s, when Joseph Rotch purchased 13 acres of land along our deep harbor, establishing the whale fishery that transformed the small village into a thriving port.

A century later, the boon of the textile industry swelled our population, spurred the development of vast new ethnic neighborhoods, and expanded the city’s growth to the north and south. Within the last century, the emergence of commercial fishing and processing secured our national prominence as a center of global commerce, wholly connected to the sea.
Today, our commercial fishing fleet, recreational, and research vessels have replaced the hulking whaling ships of the past. Soon the nation’s first purpose built terminal for offshore wind deployment will be launching America’s first offshore wind projects.
Our historic mill buildings, that once contained thousands of spinning looms, are being preserved and transformed for new uses. While whaling and textiles no longer fuel an economy that drives the success and growth patterns of the city, our identity as a vibrant and ethnically diverse seaport community holds fast.
- Founded in 1787 as a thriving whaling village
- 60 businesses have opened or expandedin downtown since 2007
- The #1 value commercial fishing port in America
- The #1 new growth gateway city in the Commonwealth
- Safe, diverse, and close-knit neighborhoods
- Named one of the dozen Distinctive Destinations in the US by the National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Rich in culture, maritime, and textile history
- 20 galleries and museums in the downtown including the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the National Historical Park
- Home to the finest sailing on the East Coast
- Home to companies such as Titleist, Joseph Abboud Manufacturing, AFC Cable Systems, South Coast Health, and Morgan Advanced Materials