Four other New Bedfords exist outside Massachusetts. Here's what we learned about them. (2024)

NEW BEDFORD — Back before the American Revolutionary War, New Bedford wasactually partof Old Dartmouth in a section called Bedford Village.When it came time to incorporate the area in 1787 the name Bedford was already taken, whenBedford, Massachusetts, wasincorporated58 years earlier.Hence, “New” Bedford was born.

Enough for the history lesson.

Thisgot Curious SouthCoast towondering about other NewBedfordsthat might exist across the country.

We know that there are other Whalers, so naturally we needed to investigate where the other New Bedfords are.

Surprisingly, there are only fourothers that bear the name NewBedford.

New Bedford, Pennsylvania

The little townof New Bedford,Pennsylvania, is so small you could walk across itsince it’s only 2.5 miles wide. It's one of the communities where literally everyone knows your name. The population is 857 according to the 2021census.There areonly nine streets in the town and two don’t even havenames butare simply designated as T717 andT932.

Students go to school innearbyWilmington.

The town is located in the far western part of the state and shakes hands with neighboring Ohio. The town is located within Lawrence County which has a population of 85,083.

New Bedford, Ohio

New Bedford, Ohio, is considered an unincorporated community and part of Coshocton County.

“So I visited yesterday, and at least four of the local stores were closed for a wedding or other event that was being attended,” said Landon Troyer, who lives in the area. The Standard-Times found Troyer through Twitter. Troyer said the town is mostly populated by Amishfamilies. In referencing the book, "New Bedford Then & Now" by Doyle Yoder and Eileen Yoder, he said the original plot for New Bedford was laid out in March 1825 by John Gonser and it consisted of 55 lots.

Four other New Bedfords exist outside Massachusetts. Here's what we learned about them. (2)

In the early days, New Bedford, Ohio, was known for its saloons. The locals preferred to call them taverns. There was also lots of fighting in the town square, the book noted.

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Today’s New Bedford, Ohio consists of two feed mills and at least 14 businesses such as New Bedford Sportsmen Supply, New Bedford Harness & Boot, New Bedford Feed & Supply Co., and New Bedford Country Store.

While Troyer was in the town recently, he took some pictures for the Standard-Times to use in this story.

New Bedford, Illinois

This New Bedford is a small village in Bureau County, Illinois andthis one reportedly has ties to New Bedford, Massachusetts. It lies eight miles south of Tampico in Bureau County.

According to Reminiscences of Bureau County, 1872 by N. Matson and Past and Present of Bureau County, 1906 transcribed by Nancy Piper, the village was named by settlers from New Bedford, Massachusetts and was originally called Winnebago. The post office for Winnebago was established June 12, 1844, and was changed to New Bedford July 31, 1855.

Four other New Bedfords exist outside Massachusetts. Here's what we learned about them. (3)

The population was 75 at the time of the 2010 census, down from 95 in 2000. It is part of the Ottawa Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Two tornadoes briefly touched down in New Bedford, Illinois on June 22, 2016, at 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.Each lasted less than half a mile, and the winds peaked at 65 mph for both tornadoes.

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The more things change, the more they stay the same. In doing online research about New Bedford, Illinois, a photo was found taken in 1910 of the New Bedford Department Store. The cement step that ran across the front of the store is still there today.

New Bedford, New Jersey

Thinking of New Jersey usually brings to mind images of cities, factories, and oil refinery smokestacks visible along I-95. This New Bedford is anything but.

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It's not even a town — barely a village.

This place is so small, it's considered an unincorporated community located within Wall Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. It covers109 acres in area and as of 2019 had a population of 63.

Four other New Bedfords exist outside Massachusetts. Here's what we learned about them. (4)

Trying to find its precise location on a map can prove challenging. It's more or less a land parcel and maps put the center in a Wall Township baseball field. There is a New Bedford Road that passes nearby.

Standard-Times digital producer Linda Roycan be reached at lroy@s-t.com. You can follow her on Twitter at@LindaRoy_SCT. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times.

Four other New Bedfords exist outside Massachusetts. Here's what we learned about them. (2024)

FAQs

What is New Bedford, Massachusetts known for? ›

A famous old whaling port, New Bedford continues to earn its living and pride from the sea. Today, New Bedford is America's #1 fishing port with a large fishing fleet, spoiling visitors and locals alike with fresh seafood at one of the many restaurants.

What is the motto of New Bedford Massachusetts? ›

Rebranding a city steeped in history

The City Seal's inscription “Lucem Diffundo” (meaning “I diffuse light”) was the inspiration for New Bedford's new tagline: Lighting the way.

Was New Bedford a wealthy town? ›

In the 19th Century New Bedford gained worldwide reputation as the greatest whaling port and the richest city per capita in the world. Portuguese and Cape Verdean immigrants formed the backbone of the whaling industry, on the wharves and on the high seas.

Was New Bedford Massachusetts the city that lit the world? ›

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) — New Bedford was once the city that lit the world, exporting vast quantities of whale oil for lamps in the early 1800s. Workers packed the docks, unloading casks of oil that had been extracted at sea from whale carcasses and brought in by a fleet of hundreds of whaling ships.

What is Bedford best known for? ›

Bedford was granted a town charter in 1166 by King Henry II and grew as a centre for the wool trade. It later became a powerhouse of England's lace industry, aided by the River Great Ouse becoming navigable in 1689. It was also a centre for religious thinkers.

Is New Bedford MA a good place to live? ›

The crime rate in New Bedford is 2,403 crimes per 100,000 people and 628 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The property crime rate in New Bedford is 1,775 per 100,000 people. Despite this, New Bedford is a safe place to live.

What is the nickname for New Bedford? ›

New Bedford is nicknamed, "The Whaling City," because during the 19th century it was one of the most important, if not the most important whaling ports in the world.

Why is New Bedford called New Beige? ›

One name people use for New Bedford, passed down through the generations, is New Beige. It's said "New Beige" is a nod to the city's cultural history, mainly a takeoff on the pronunciation of New Bedford among Portuguese immigrants. It's so popular, it's now the name of downtown's new restaurant.

Who lives in New Bedford, MA? ›

Much of the city is Portuguese or of Portuguese descent and if you don't speak the language it's hard. There are areas where none of the residents are not Portuguese, these areas cater strictly to the residents and make 'outsiders' feel unwelcome.

Why move to New Bedford? ›

New Bedford, MA is known for its seafood industry, textiles, and for being a famous old whaling port. There are about 101,637 residents, so living in New Bedford is great for people looking to move to a mid-sized city.

What is the sister city of New Bedford? ›

Tosashimizu, Japan

Tosashimizu became a sister city to New Bedford in 1987, having one of the longest standing friendships between the United States and Japan. Manjiro Nakahama was a fisherman born in Tosashimizu and in 1841 was rescued from a shipwreck by a whaling ship sailing out of the port of New Bedford.

Why do people live in Bedford? ›

Bedford is a cosmopolitan town made up of one of the most diverse communities in the UK making it a vibrant place to live and work with a good range of houses, abundance of green spaces, decent food places, excellent transport links and a beautiful riverside not to mention award winning schools.

What is a fun fact about New Bedford? ›

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.

What movie was made in New Bedford Massachusetts? ›

Passionada (2003) — 6.2

Shot and set in New Bedford, this romantic comedy-drama stars Sofia Milos as a Portuguese widow whose fisherman husband was lost at sea.

What is the motto of New Bedford? ›

The original seal, first crudely drawn in 1847, depicted only the lighthouse with the motto, "Lucem Diffundens," which translates to "Diffusing Light," or the lighthouse as saying "I am diffusing light." Howland and the new city fathers were predominately Quakers.

What two industries is New Bedford currently number one in? ›

(WPRI) — New Bedford is the top commercial fishing port in the country, but it's also emerging as an epicenter of conflict between the fishing industry and the growing wind industry.

Is New Bedford expensive? ›

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.

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