Editing Fairhaven, Massachusetts (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|14.1|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|12.4|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|1.7|sqmi|km2}}, or 12.06%, is water. It is bordered by the river and [[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]] to the west, [[Acushnet, Massachusetts|Acushnet]] to the north, [[Mattapoisett, Massachusetts|Mattapoisett]] to the east and Buzzards Bay to the south. The town line with Mattapoisett lies along the Bristol and [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth]] county lines. The town is the southeastern corner of Bristol County, and contains the easternmost point of the county, on West Island. Fairhaven is approximately {{convert|54|mi|km}} south of [[Boston]], {{convert|21|mi|km}} by land west of [[Cape Cod]], and {{convert|32|mi|km}} southeast of [[Providence, Rhode Island]].

The town is located on [[Buzzards Bay]], on the eastern bank of the [[Acushnet River]] at its mouth. The lands of the town jut out into the bay via Sconticut Neck and West Island, along with several other small islands. Most of the town's water area consists of its harbors, bays and coves, along with a portion of the Acushnet's waters, and Nasketucket and Scipping Creeks. The town lies along coastal plain, and has some swampland along the Nasketucket and around Boy's and Girl's Creeks, north of Priest's Cove. Fairhaven's localities include Fairhaven Center, North Fairhaven, East Fairhaven, Oxford, Poverty Point, Nasketucket, Sconticut Neck, and Winsegansett Heights. Most of the town's population lies either in the west side of town, along Sconticut Neck or in the village of East Fairhaven, with the northeast quarter of the town's land sparsely populated.
[[File:Phoenix Bike Trail, 2022, Fairhaven MA.jpg|thumb|198x198px|Phoenix Rail Trail heading east from Hamlet Street]]
The town has two large public parks, Livesey Park and Cushman Park, as well as a number of smaller ones. Cushman Park, as well as having tennis courts and ballfields and a bandstand, is the location of [[Fairhaven High School]]'s running track. The town has several commercial wharves, a yacht club, and several marinas for recreational craft. There are several small bathing beaches, the largest being the [[Fort Phoenix State Reservation]], a south-facing beach to the east of the fort and the New Bedford Harbor [[New Bedford Harbor Hurricane Barrier|Hurricane Barrier]]. There is also a bike path, the Phoenix Rail Trail, which travels along a long-unused railroad right-of-way (formerly the [[Fairhaven Branch Railroad]]), just to the south of Route 6. The 5.2-mile long rail trail connects Fairhaven Center with Mattapoisett Center.

===Surrounding communities===
{{Geographic location
|Northwest = [[Freetown, Massachusetts|Freetown]]
|North     = [[Acushnet, Massachusetts|Acushnet]]
|Northeast = [[Rochester, Massachusetts|Rochester]]
|East      = [[Mattapoisett, Massachusetts|Mattapoisett]]
|West      = [[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]]
|Center    = Fairhaven
|South     = [[Gosnold, Massachusetts|Gosnold]]
|Southeast =
}}