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The
county of Bristol is bounded north by
Norfolk County, east by
Plymouth, south-east by
Buzzard's Bay, and west by the counties of
Providence,
Bristol, and
Newport, Rhode Island.
It is divided into nineteen municipalities, of which New Bedford,
Fall River, and
Taunton are cities.
The entire population of the county in 1860 was 93,794, in 1865 it was 89,339; being a decrease in five years of 4,455.
The population in 1870 was 102,886, being an increase in five years of 13,191.
The total valuation of the county in 1860 was $66,294,526, in 1865 it was $87,428,503; being an increase in five years of $21,133,983.
This county gives rise to several streams, which fall into
Massachusetts and Narragansett Bays, the most important of which is ‘Taunton Great River,’ that in times past was famous for its herring fisheries.
New Bedford and Dartmouth are well known as being the chief seats of the whale-fishery.
Fall River and
Taunton are largely engaged in manufactures of various kinds.
The aggregate value of articles manufactured in the county in 1865 was $55,038,314. The surface of the county ‘is somewhat broken, but generally level; its soil in many parts is of an inferior quality.
It has a maritime coast of considerable extent, indented with numerous headlands, small bays and harbors;’ and its people are extensively engaged in navigation and the fishery, though of late years the attention of its capitalists has been more generally given to manufacturing.
The county is also well provided with railroad accommodations.
Bristol County furnished full nine thousand men for the army and navy during the four years of the war. Every city and
