Fairhaven is located on the South Coast and bordered by New Bedford, Acushnet, Mattapoisett, and Buzzards Bay. Fairhaven shares a harbor with New Bedford, in fact, and the small town’s history and economy is closely aligned with its larger neighbor. During the height of the whaling industry many of Fairhaven's residents were shipwrights, sail makers, and coopers. Today, quiet neighborhoods, coastal beauty, magnificent architecture (Fairhaven Town Hall, Fairhaven High School, and Millicent Library, for example), and easy access to an array of amenities make Fairhaven a desirable location.
Fairhaven is located 50 miles south of Boston and 35 miles east of Providence, Rhode Island. The town currently has no MBTA rail service, however the commuter rail from New Bedford to Boston will be available in the coming few years. Interstate I95 and U.S. Route 6 travel through Fairhaven. The SRTA bus service provides transportation between Fairhaven and New Bedford.
From historical and architectural sites to beaches and nature preserves, Fairhaven has a variety of places of interest. Fort Phoenix is an American Revolutionary War fort and historical landmark, and the property also features a half-mile beachfront where visitors can swim, hike, and picnic. Fairhaven has two other beaches: Pope Beach and West Island Town Beach. Popular parks and green spaces include Shipyard Farm Trails, Little Bay Conservation Area, and Shaw Farm Trail. Hoppy’s Landing, which is located on Buzzard’s Bay, has a boat launch, kayak launch and wooden pier, and has long been called “a fishermen’s paradise.” Other community highlights include the Fairhaven Farmers' Market, the BMX Pump Track, a clay/dirt track created in 2018 for BMX and mountain biking, and several year-round playgrounds.
Fairhaven's great benefactor, Henry H. Rogers, befriended a number of the high and mighty; he also became a friend, advisor, and patron to a number of the less-well-off. Among his friends were Booker T. Washington, Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller, and Mark Twain, all of whom came to visit Rogers in Fairhaven, sometimes for lengthy periods.
