Southeastern Massachusetts

Definition

As Southeastern Massachusetts is not an official designation, its borders are not exactly defined.

At its broadest definition, it includes all of Plymouth and Bristol counties (particularly the South Coast along Buzzards Bay and the South Shore along Cape Cod Bay), most of the cities and towns in Norfolk County, and even some towns in Worcester County. At its narrowest definition, it includes all of Bristol County, the western part of Plymouth County and the southwestern part of Norfolk County, with the South Shore and Metro-South areas being counted separately.

The terms "Southeastern Massachusetts," "Southeastern New England", and "Southern New England" are much-used by Providence-area broadcasters and other local companies and organizations but are not used as frequently in other parts of Massachusetts.

Characteristics

The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) task force, which concerns Southeastern Massachusetts in its broadest definition, describes:

Brockton, Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford are the largest cities in Southeastern Massachusetts and are close to one another in size. All four have a strong Portuguese presence. In 2000, 43.9% of Fall River residents identified as being of Portuguese heritage. This is the highest percentage of Portuguese Americans in the country. Most of the population claims to be of Azorean origin, many from São Miguel Island. There are smaller, but significant presences of other Portuguese-speaking communities, such as other Azorean Islanders, Portuguese from mainland Portugal, Madeirans, Cape Verdeans, Brazilians, and Angolans. In 2000 New Bedford had the second highest percentage of Portuguese Americans with 38.6% of residents reporting that ancestry. New Bedford is also 8.0% Cape Verdean, 4.39% African American and 7.1% Puerto Rican, and 3% were other Hispanics, In 2000 it was 75% White alone.

Like most of the state, Southeastern Massachusetts is ethnically, racially, linguistically, and religiously diverse. However, Portuguese-speakers are especially well represented in this area (especially Bristol County) due to a pattern of immigration that began in the 19th century and was tied to the whaling industry. Today, many people in Southeastern Massachusetts, most notability Bristol County, trace their ancestry to mainland Portugal and the Azores. Irish Americans dominate Bristol County and Plymouth County which has been known as the "Irish Riviera". Cape Verdean Americans, Brazilian Americans, Angolan Americans, African Americans, Arab Americans, Irish Americans, British Americans, Scottish Americans, Portuguese Americans, Asian Americans, Latin Americans, Spanish Americans, Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Russian Americans, Turkish Americans, German Americans, Polish Americans, Swedish Americans, French Americans, Lebanese Americans, Italian Americans, and Greek Americans preside over Brockton, Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford.

Cities and towns

The following tabular list shows the 12 government divisions of Southeastern Massachusetts which have been officially granted the right to use the city form of government along with the official name in use by each municipality.The main source for the table is the Massachusetts Municipal Association 2009-2010 Municipal Directory . The MMA Directory is not an official state document, but is more up to date and specific than the official list from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's office, which is dated 03-11-2008 and does not include Palmer, Randolph and Winthrop, which have since adopted the city form of government.

Census-designated places

• Acushnet Center
• Bellingham
• Bliss Corner
• Bourne
• Brewster
• Bridgewater
• Buzzards Bay
• Cedar Crest
• Chatham
• Dennis
• Dennis Port
• Dover
• Duxbury
• East Dennis
• East Falmouth
• East Harwich
• East Sandwich
• East Taunton
• Edgartown
• Falmouth
• Forestdale
• Foxborough
• Green Harbor
• Hanson
• Harwich Center
• Harwich Port
• Kingston
• Mansfield Center
• Marion Center
• Marshfield
• Marshfield Hills
• Mashpee Neck
• Mattapoisett Center
• Medfield
• Middleborough Center
• Millis-Clicquot
• Monomoscoy Island
• Monument Beach
• New Seabury
• North Eastham
• North Falmouth
• North Lakeville
• North Pembroke
• North Plymouth
• North Scituate
• North Seekonk
• North Westport
• Northwest Harwich
• Norton Center
• Oak Bluffs
• Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock
• Ocean Grove
• Onset
• Orleans
• The Pinehills
• Plymouth ("Plymouth Center")
• Pocasset
• Popponesset
• Popponesset Island
• Provincetown
• Raynham Center
• Sagamore
• Sandwich
• Scituate
• Seabrook
• Seconsett Island
• Sharon
• Smith Mills
• South Dennis
• South Duxbury
• South Yarmouth
• Southfield, Massachusetts
• Teaticket
• Taunton
• Vineyard Haven
• Walpole
• Wareham Center
• West Chatham
• West Dennis
• West Falmouth
• West Wareham
• West Yarmouth
• Weweantic
• White Island Shores
• Woods Hole
• Yarmouth Port

Education

Institutions of higher learning which serve Southeastern Massachusetts communities include:

• Bradford Durfee College of Technology
• Bridgewater State University
• Bristol Community College
• Cape Cod Community College
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy
• Massasoit Community College
• Stonehill College
• University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
• University of Massachusetts School of Law
• Wheaton College
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Notes

References

References

1. "(SRPEDD) task force".
2. "The US50 - Cities and Towns in Massachusetts State".
3. "Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers".
4. "University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth".
5. "2009-10 Municipal Directory". Massachusetts Municipal Association.
6. (April 2020}}{{cbignore). "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision, 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". U.S. Census Bureau.
7. "Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates". Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
8. "Citizen Information Service: Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
9. "Attleboro, MA | Official Website".
10. "Official Website of The Town of Barnstable".
11. "Braintree, MA {{!}} Official website".
12. "Bridgewater, MA | Official Website".
13. (November 5, 2024). "City of Brockton, MA - Official Website".
14. "Welcome to Fall River, Massachusetts".
15. "franklinma |".
16. "Home - City of New Bedford Official Website".
17. "Quincy, MA".
18. (November 19, 2009). "Chapter 147 of the Acts of 2009". Massachusetts General Court.
19. "Randolph, MA | Official Website".
20. "Taunton, MA | Official Website".
21. "weymouthma |".