Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Apponeganset
Dartmouth, Massachusetts Apponeganset
Town
	Dartmouth Town Hall
	Seal
	Motto(s): Utile Dulci (Latin); "Service Through Kindness and Peaceful Means"
	Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts
	Coordinates: 41°36′52″N 70°58′11″W / 41.61444°N 70.96972°W
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Bristol
Settled	1652
Incorporated	1664
Government
• Type	Representative town meeting
Area
• Total	97.5 sq mi (252.6 km2)
• Land	60.9 sq mi (157.8 km2)
• Water	36.6 sq mi (94.8 km2)
Elevation	125 ft (38 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	33,783
• Density	350/sq mi (130/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes	02747, 02748, 02714
Area codes	508/774
FIPS code	25-16425
GNIS ID	0618279
Website	www.town.dartmouth.ma.us

Dartmouth (Massachusett: Apponeganset^[1]) is a coastal town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.^[4]

Dartmouth is the third-largest town (by land area) in Massachusetts, after Plymouth and Middleborough.^[5] 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. Marys 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, and is directly adjacent to Bishop Stang High School, a Catholic high school. St. George Parish in Westport also covers portions of the town of Dartmouth and was founded in 1914.^[6]

^ Ricketson, Daniel (1858). The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time. D. Ricketson. p. 13. OCLC 1263627689.
^ GUHA, AUDITI. "Dartmouth's rich 350-year history". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
^ Silva, Lurdes C. da. "Azorean city of Lagoa to celebrate its 500 years with local Sister Cities, special exhibition to open May 13 in Dartmouth". Fall River Herald News. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
^ "Census - Geography Profile: Dartmouth town, Bristol County, Massachusetts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
^ Wall, Barry W. (2003). A History of the Diocese of Fall River. Strasbourg, France: Editions de Signe. pp. 81, 102, 103. ISBN 2-7468-1253-3.

[1] Ricketson, Daniel (1858). The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time. D. Ricketson. p. 13. OCLC 1263627689.

[2] GUHA, AUDITI. "Dartmouth's rich 350-year history". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.

[3] Silva, Lurdes C. da. "Azorean city of Lagoa to celebrate its 500 years with local Sister Cities, special exhibition to open May 13 in Dartmouth". Fall River Herald News. Retrieved September 20, 2022.

[4] "Census - Geography Profile: Dartmouth town, Bristol County, Massachusetts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 11, 2021.

[Mass_areas-5] "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2013.

[6] Wall, Barry W. (2003). A History of the Diocese of Fall River. Strasbourg, France: Editions de Signe. pp. 81, 102, 103. ISBN 2-7468-1253-3.

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