The Maritime Heritage
of New Bedford
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Our Maritime Heritage
In the 19th century, New Bedford was the top whaling port in the world, setting the stage for Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.” Whalers from New Bedford sailed the globe, hunting for whale oil, the then-unrivaled source of light and lubrication.
This era of our history shaped the cultural and economic future of our City and to this day is immortalized through our diverse culture and historical architecture.
Did You Know?
In the 19th century, New Bedford was reported to be the richest city in the world per capita.
New Bedford Today:
A Vibrant Maritime Hub
As whaling waned with the advent of petroleum products, New Bedford kept true to its maritime roots and our economy has moved to commercial fishing, becoming what is now the top seafood port in the entire country by economic value for over two decades.
Today, the port is a vital point in the supply chain for a very large portion of the seafood industry in the United States and beyond. It is an economic hub as well, generating over 11 billion in economic value and over 1.2 billion in local, state, and federal taxes.
Pounds of Seafood Moving Through The Port Per Day
Businesses in The Waterfront Generating an Estimated $2.7 Billion in Sales
Jobs Directly at Our Port, With Wages Totaling $238 Million!
The Future of Our City…
Our city has great things in store for the future! Check out our Sustainability & Innovation page to learn more.