They occupy an irregular parcel of land more than 90 acres (36 ha) in size on the west side of the city.

The cemetery was a popular burial site, including notably the landscape artist Albert Bierstadt and Governor of Massachusetts John H.

It consists of a roughly 2-acre (0.81 ha) parcel on one side of the Rural Cemetery, which was sold to the Dartmouth Friends in 1849, but is administered by the city.

This section has less ornate markers, generally laid out in rectilinear fashion.

It includes burials that were relocated from a Friends cemetery (dating to 1793) that had been located on the New Bedford waterfront.