Sitting at the far west end of Bristol County is Westport, Massachusetts, a town of under 16,000 people that’s right on the Rhode Island border. The south end of town has Little Compton, RI to the west, while the north end is just east of Fall River. There’s also Dartmouth and New Bedford to the east of Westport.
Westport Villages & Communities
There are numerous villages and communities within Westport, starting with North Westport, which is home to about a quarter of the town’s population. North Westport is right along the I-195 and separated from Fall River by a bridge. Other communities in the town include Westport Point, which is right along the Westport River at the south of the municipality, Central Village, where much of the town’s industry and retail establishments are located, and Head of Westport, a quiet residential area where the east arm of the river ends. There’s also Acoaxet, which isn’t accessible from anywhere in Massachusetts by land. You actually have to drive into Rhode Island, before re-entering Massachusetts to reach this part of the town, making it a unique entity.
Westport Area Info
Westport is almost completely surrounded by water bodies, including Watuppa Ponds on its west side and Westport Harbor, which is where the two arms of the Westport River meet, at the south end of town, before finally emptying into Buzzards Bay. Also of note is the fact that Westport is just 30 miles from Providence, and even less if you live in North Westport, so commuting is quick and easy. Despite its small population, Westport is rather expansive, with 64.4 square miles of land. Therefore, the population is a mere 310 people per square mile of land. As a result, if you buy Westport real estate, you can expect to have lots of space because many of the lots and homes are quite large.
Westport History
As you might expect, Westport got its name from its physical location, as it was the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s westernmost port. The area was formerly part of Dartmouth township and was first settled in 1670 by the Sisson family. The river running through the region was called Coaksett, now called Acoaxet, and, therefore, the land took the same name. In 1787, Westport, along with New Bedford and Fairhaven, separated from Dartmouth. Westport was incorporated that same year. Early industry in the area included shipyards and cotton mills. Later, Gooseberry Island was used as a major coastal defense location, particularly during the Second World War. Most of Westport is now residential and the area around Horseneck Beach State Reservation, at the very southern tip of town, is home to a very famous summertime beach.
Things To Do in Westport
When visiting the town before deciding if you want to buy one of the homes for sale in Westport, MA, have a look at the following locations:
- Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary
- Horse Neck Beach State Reservation
- Dedee Shattuck Gallery
- Partners Village Store
- Bayside Restaurant
These locations will give you a better idea of what you can expect when you move to Westport. You might also want to check the neighboring cities of New Bedford and Fall River, as they provide easily accessible amenities and are close to many Westport homes.
Learn More About Westport with Demakis Family Real Estate!
If you’re looking to become one of the town’s newest homeowners, contact Demakis Family Real Estate’s nearby Mattapoisett office for more information. You can also create an account to save your searches and receive updates when homes you may be interested in hit the market!
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