Acushnet, Massachusetts - Geography

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.9 square miles (49 km2), of which, 18.5 square miles (48 km2) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) of it (2.43%) is water. Acushnet is is bordered to the east and northeast by Rochester, to the southeast by Mattapoisett, to the south by Fairhaven, to the west by New Bedford, and to the northwest by Freetown. The town line between Acushnet, Rochester and Mattapoisett forms a portion the border between Bristol and Plymouth Counties. Acushnet lies approximately fifty miles south of Boston, twenty miles west of Cape Cod, four miles north of Buzzard's Bay, and thirty miles southeast of Providence, Rhode Island.

Acushnet lies along the Acushnet River and its tributaries, including the Keene River and Squinn Brook, which feed the New Bedford Reservoir, in turn feeding the Acushnet. The Acushnet River is the town line between it and New Bedford south of Main Street. There are several other ponds in the town, including Hamlin's Mill Pond (along the Acushnet), East Pond and a portion of Tinkham Pond, which lies along the Mattapoisett town line. The town lies within the coastal plain, mostly below 80 feet elevation, with higher points around Mendon and Perry Hills in the southeast of town and in the Sassaquin area in the northwest corner of town. Most of the town's population lies along the New Bedford line, with the biggest area being in the southwest corner of the town, near the town hall.