Bristol County, Massachusetts, originally part of the Plymouth Colony, was incorporated in 1685 and is located in the Southeastern portion of the state. When first settled, the County included much of the area which is now Rhode Island's east bay. In 1862 the two states were apportioned land which now forms Bristol County Massachusetts and Bristol County, Rhode Island.

First settlers were from Plymouth who used the extensive waterways of the great Taunton River in the 1630's. Native Wamponoags violently resisted the European settlement in the 1660's and 70's and the period became known as 'King Philip's War', after the tribe's great sachem. Considered the bloodiest war on American soil, the natives were defeated at 'Anawan Rock' in what is now Rehoboth.

During Colonial Times, the county was prominent in shipbuilding, metalsmithing, pottery making and developed some of the nation's earliest textile mills. During the Revolutionary War, several skirmishes took place in the area including those in Fall River and at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven. The first patriotic flag of the Revolution (and some consider the first American Flag) - 'The Taunton Flag' - was flown over The Green in the County's seat: Taunton. Both General Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette were visitors to the region.

In the 1800's, Bristol County saw the rise of industry and seafaring trade. New Bedford became the world's most important whaling port. Fall River became the globe's leading producer of cotton textiles. Attleboro and Taunton were national leaders in precious metalsmithing and jewelry manufacturing.

As a result of commercial activity, the region produced great captains of Industry and wealthy barons of trade including Henry Huttleston Rogers of Standard Oil fame. A testament to the times, great monuments of native granite and magnificent homes of the Victorian Era rose throughout the area. Wonderful collections of Richardsonian Gothic are evident everywhere - especially in Easton with a formidable collection.

Opportunities of work throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries brought scores of Immigrants to Bristol County to support all facets of the varied industries. From the Irish, French, Italian, German, and Scandinavian to the Portuguese, Polish, Lebanese, Cape Verdean and Cambodian, the region has become a true American 'melting pot'. Bristol County offers a host of ethnic festivals, feasts, restaurants, old world markets and specialty shops.