Bristol County, Massachusetts

Bristol County, Massachusetts
Location within the U.S. state of Massachusetts
Coordinates: 41°45′N 71°05′W / 41.75°N 71.09°W / 41.75; -71.09
Country United States
State Massachusetts
FoundedJune 2, 1685 (from Plymouth Colony)
Named afterBristol, Rhode Island
SeatTaunton
Largest cityNew Bedford
Area
 • Total
691 sq mi (1,790 km2)
 • Land553 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Water138 sq mi (360 km2)  20%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
579,200
 • Estimate 
(2024)
588,593
 • Density1,050/sq mi (404/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts4th, 8th, 9th
Websitehttps://www.countyofbristol.net/

Bristol County is a county in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 579,200. The shire town is Taunton. Some governmental functions are performed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, others by the county, and others by local towns and cities. The county is the sixth most populous county in Massachusetts. Bristol County is part of the Providence metropolitan area, which is also included in Greater Boston. The county is adjacent to the state of Rhode Island. It is geographically adjacent to the Massachusetts counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, and Dukes (via water), and the Rhode Island counties of Bristol, Newport, and Providence.