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History of Bristol County |
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| Bristol County, southeastern Massachusetts, U.S.,
is bordered to the south by Buzzards Bay and to the west by Rhode Island. It consists of a rolling coastal lowland and includes a few islands in the bay.
Bristol was created from Plymouth colony in June 1685 and named
for Bristol, England. The county seat is the city of Taunton. Other cities are Attleboro,
known for jewelry making; Fall River, known for producing textiles; and New Bedford,
which has long been a prominent fishing port. Wheaton College was founded in Norton
in 1834. The county's early industries of whaling and shipbuilding gave way to cotton
milling in the mid-19th century. Textiles continue to be a prominent industry along with electronic components,
jewelry, and primary metal industries. The southern coast supports resort communities. A large number of county residents are of Portuguese ancestry. Area 556
square miles (1,440 square km). Pop. (1990) 506,325; (1996 est.) 513,899.
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica |
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The History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, (Hurd ) states:
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| History of Bristol County Massachusetts with Biographical Sketches of many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men | History of Weymouth |
| History of Bristol County | Old Colony Historical Society |
