Fall River, Massachusetts

Fall River is the tenth biggest city in Massachusetts. Located 46 miles (74 km) south of Boston, it covers 38.2 sq mi (99 sq km) and has a population of 89,000 people (2011 estimate). The city is at the mouth of the Taunton River, on the eastern shore of Mount Hope Bay.

Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BC-CoveNBridge1d.jpg
Author: T.S. Custadio


The city of Fall River dates back to 1803, when it was separated from Freetown. Originally called Fall River, it changed its name to Troy the follow year, only to change it back thirty years later, in 1834. The city experienced rapid growth particularly in the 1870s, supporting by the cotton and milling industry. Fall River became known as "Spindle City". To work the mills, thousands of immigrants were settled in Fall River. They were mostly Irish and French Canadian.

The economic prosperity continued into the early part of the 20th century, with the First World War providing new demand for textile. It was only in the post war years that production outpaced demand, and by the 1920s, the mills were closing down one after the other. The Great Depression also hit the city hard, and many companies in Fall River went out of business.

Fall River holds the distinction of being the only city in America to have its city hall right above an interstate highway. The city hall, opened in 1976, was not popular with the people of Fall River when it first opened in 1976.

Visiting Fall River

You can fly to Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) and take a taxi from there. If you're driving, take Interstate 195 which runs east-west through Fall River.

Armory Building, Bank Street, Fall River
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bank_Street_Armory.jpg
Author: Marcbela

Places of Interest in Fall River

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