Community Overview

Whether you are relocating to our corner of southeastern Massachusetts, or simply moving across town, we want you to become more familiar with this special place we call home. One look through our community photo album and you’ll agree: you belong here!

WHERE TO FIND US


WHERE TO FIND US: The Alferes Community is a diverse collection of cities, towns, and hamlets situated in the southernmost corner of Bristol County, Massachusetts. You'll find us on the map approximately one hour south of Boston, in an area proscribed by I-495 on the north, I-195 on the south, and Routes 24 and 25 on the west and east.

Our best-known city is historic New Bedford, but many of our other communities are notable in their own right.

Nature Lovers’ Paradise Nature Lovers' Paradise
Bounded on the west by the northern boundary of Narragansett Bay, and on the east by Buzzards Bay – the gateway to Cape Cod – our area is rippled by harbors, inlets, lakes, and vernal pools. While the region is an aquarian paradise, outdoor attractions of all types keep our residents and visitors busy throughout the year.

Explore the area by sea on a Narragansett Bay Cruise, or paddle your way along our rivers and coastal waters with help from Canoe Passage Outfitters, or Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures. Or venture inland on foot to the Lloyd Center for the Environment,  Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, or Freetown State Forest.

Buttonwood ZooIf you prefer to walk on the wild side, pay a visit to the Buttonwood Zoo. Or exercise your green thumb by exploring our numerous farm stands and stellar gardening specialty stores – including Roseland Nurseries in Acushnet, where you'll find more than 300 varieties of floribundas, miniatures, climbers, and vintage varieties. In nearby Rehoboth, Tranquil Lake Nurseries dazzles visitors with the largest collection of daylilies and Siberian and Japanese iris in the northeastern United States. For further gardening inspiration, stop by Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum, 13 miles from Fall River in Bristol RI, or sign up as a member of one of the many gardening clubs in Fall River, Lakeville, New Bedford, South Dartmouth, Taunton, or Wareham.


Furtado’sFood for Thought
Fans of gourmet and down-home cooking feel right at home in the Alferes Community backyard. And little wonder. Farms and orchards abound in our region, and in the summer, open-air markets in Dartmouth, Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, and Westport showcase the best of locally-grown produce.

Locally harvested grapes make their way into fine varietal wines. To sample the products and see the wine-making process, stop by Westport Rivers Vineyard, High Hill Vineyard, or Running Brook Vineyard. Or hop on over to the Buzzards Bay Brewing Company to taste the latest specialties of the haus.

In addition to contributions from our farms, the flavor of the South Coast has been heavily influenced by the region's Portuguese community – from settlers who came here centuries ago, to more recent gastronomes like Fall River scion Emeril Lagasse. Looking for freshly made linguica and chorizo? You'll find it in Fall River at Furtado's; at Gaspar's in North Dartmouth, and Fragozo's in New Bedford. Grab a loaf of airy Portuguese sweet bread at Carreiros Barcelos Bakery, or at Chaves Market. Bam!


Battleship CoveTimeless Treasures
 More than four centuries have passed since the first settlers came to the South Coast region. Understandably, signs of bygone days are evident wherever you turn.

In New Bedford – where whaling captains once made their fortunes – cobblestone streets and stately colonial-era homes (such as the Rotch-Jones-Duff House) surround the waterfront. The Seaman's Bethel, where author Herman Melville drew inspiration for his novel, Moby Dick, still stands, serving as part of the larger New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park compound. In the nearby New Bedford Whaling Museum, the grand and ignominious history of the whaling industry, and the lives of "those who go down to the sea in ships," is beautifully showcased.

Capturing more recent history, Battleship Cove in Fall River boasts the world's largest collection of historic naval ships, and serves as Massachusetts' official memorial to all Bay Staters killed in service to their nation during World War II. Another icon of bygone days – the refurbished Carousel #54 – can be found nearby in a lavish Victorian pavilion overlooking Heritage State Park. For just $1 a ride, you will literally be taken back in time, and around and around and around...


zeiterionArt and Entertainment
Venues on the South Coast are plentiful, and first-rate. Located in Mansfield, the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts (previously Great Woods) seats up to 20,000 fans May through September. In New Bedford’s elegant Zeiterion Theatre – a restored 1923 vaudeville house – world-class performances (the Moiseyev Dance Company from Russia, the Legendary Masters of Kung-Fu, the Shaolin Warriors from China, Fado superstar Mariza, the African Children’s Choir, and more) take to the stage. A resident theatre company, annual film series, and special summer programs round out the offerings.

At the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, located atop an old mill building with spectacular views of Fall River's waterfront, the 280-seat facility hosts high-quality, national and local performing and visual artists, musicians, writers and performers. In Marion (a popular destination for writers and artists during the town’s Gilded Age), the Marion Art Center provides two galleries, a small theatre, and a studio where visitors and artists can get up close and personal. And at UMass/Dartmouth, the university theatre company presents four main-stage musicals and plays, and one free outdoor summer cabaret, each year.

National Marine Life CtrMuseums on the South Coast keep residents and newcomers informed about their roots – from regional history to the area’s environmental gifts – at a number of special museums. Among them are the National Marine Life Center in Buzzard’s Bay and the Fall River Marine Museum, And if you want to ratchet up the pace a notch, nothing gets the heart thumping faster than a visit to the Seekonk Speedway. You'll see monster trucks, demo derbies, figure 8 and drag demos and more on the track. And when the cars aren't doing their thing, the venue is humming with other activity, including a Sunday flea market, and fireworks displays at night during the season.

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES: