New Bedford is a city in
Bristol County,
Massachusetts,
United States. As of the
2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts. New Bedford is nicknamed "The Whaling City" because during the 19th century, the city was one of the most important, if not the most important,
whaling ports in the world, along with
Nantucket, Massachusetts and
New London, Connecticut. The city, along with
Fall River and
Taunton, make up the three largest cities in the
South Coast region of Massachusetts. The Greater Providence-Fall River-New Bedford area is home to the largest
Portuguese-American community in the
United States.