Fairhaven Water Department

Fairhaven Water Department Municipal Water Report Info

The region now known as Fairhaven was purchased from Wampanoag Chief Massasoit in 1652 by a group of Plymouth colonists. Settlers began establishing homes around 1659. Early pioneers included John Cooke, a Mayflower Pilgrim, and his cousin Jonathan Delano, an ancestor of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Initial settlers primarily engaged in farming and coastal trading, with shipbuilding and whaling expanding just before the Revolutionary War. In 1775, Fairhaven residents fought the war's first naval engagement, capturing two British vessels in the outer harbor. Fort Phoenix, completed in 1777, defended the harbor through the Civil War era. The British launched an attack in September 1778 when approximately 4,000 troops conducted a two-day assault resulting in burned homes and sunken vessels.

Fairhaven was officially incorporated on February 22, 1812, separating from New Bedford due to political disagreements regarding the War of 1812. During the 19th century, the whaling industry and related maritime trades significantly contributed to the town's growth and connected Fairhaven with global cultures.

This international connection includes the story of Manjiro Nakahama, who became the first Japanese person to live in America after Captain William Whitfield rescued him from a Pacific island. Manjiro resided in Fairhaven for several years before returning to Japan, where he gained national prominence.

The 19th century also saw retired sea captain Joseph Bates Jr. write a religious treatise that became the foundation of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Fairhaven is also where famous sailor Captain Joshua Slocum rebuilt the small sloop Spray before sailing it solo around the world from 1895 to 1898.

Between 1885 and 1906, Fairhaven benefited greatly from the gifts of European-style public architecture donated by native son Henry H. Rogers, a Standard Oil Company multimillionaire. His contributions included a grammar school, library, town hall, high school, Unitarian Church, and the public water system.

After whaling's decline, New Bedford textile mills brought English, French Canadian, and Portuguese workers to the area, further increasing the population. Maritime interests shifted toward fishing and ship repair—industries that remain part of the local economy, though retail trade now dominates.

Historical brochures and guided walking tours are provided to visitors, tour groups, schools, and residents by the town's Office of Tourism. The Town of Fairhaven was established in 1653 and incorporated in 1812. It operates under the Selectmen-Representative Town Meeting form of government and is located in Southeastern Bristol County, approximately 50 miles south of Boston and 35 miles east of Providence, Rhode Island.