BEDFORD, New, a seaport town of North America, state of Massachusetts, near the entrance of Buzzard's Bay, 51 miles S.S.E. of Boston, with which it is connected by railway. The city is built on a commanding elevation above the west bank of the Acushnet river, and presents a very handsome appearance. The principal public buildings are the town-hall, custom-house, court-house, and several churches. This city is mainly indebted for its prosperity to the whale fishery, to which it furnishes no less than two-thirds of the whole shipping so employed by the United States. Besides oil and candles, it
has large manufactures of cordage, hoops, &c. The ship-building also is very considerable. Pop. (1850) 16,464. Bedfordshire.