Padanaram Harbor was voted the best harbor in the nation by readers of the website USharbors.com during an online contest involving nearly 1500 participants.

The South Dartmouth harbor won with 560 votes, easily outstripping runners-up Florence, Oregon (second place, with 203 votes) and Lubec, Maine (third, with 78 votes.)

The contest started in January with a nominations round that winnowed 1300 harbors across the US down to 90, with at least one in every coastal state.

Voting started online in early March. Participants could send in photos and other information — including tips and favorite businesses — along with their vote.

Managing director of USharbors.com George Eaton said: “It was really about people in the harbors who had a lot of pride in their hometowns, and that was nice to see.”

In a statement, USharbors.com noted that the website will be featuring articles about local history and events in Padanaram/South Dartmouth on their homepage throughout the week.

The US Harbors team will also visit Padanaram/South Dartmouth at the end of the month to hand deliver a plaque, Helly Hansen vests, and assorted US Harbors gifts to the town office and harbormaster.