Taunton, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
 Taunton Green | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname(s): The Silver City, The Christmas City | |
| Motto(s): Dux Femina Facti(Latin) "A woman led the deed." | |
 Location inBristol County, Massachusetts | |
  Taunton, Massachusetts Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°54′00″N71°05′25″W / 41.90000°N 71.09028°W /41.90000; -71.09028 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Bristol |
| Settled | 1639 |
| Incorporated (Town) | 1639 |
| Incorporated (City) | 1864 |
| Named after | Taunton, England |
| Government | |
| • Type | Strong mayor / Council |
| • Mayor | Shaunna O'Connell |
| • Council | Taunton City Council |
| • City Council President | Scott Martin |
| Area | |
• Total | 48.41 sq mi (125.39 km2) |
| • Land | 46.71 sq mi (120.97 km2) |
| • Water | 1.71 sq mi (4.42 km2) |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 60,941 |
| • Density | 1,271.90/sq mi (491.08/km2) |
| • Demonym | Tauntonian |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Codes | 02780 (Taunton) 02718 (East Taunton) |
| Area code | 508 /774 |
| FIPS code | 25-69170 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0613154 |
| Website | www |
Taunton is a city in and thecounty seat ofBristol County, Massachusetts, United States.[2] Taunton is situated on theTaunton River, which winds its way through the city on its way toMount Hope Bay, 10 miles (16 km) to the south. As of the2020 census, the city had a population of 59,408; this makes Taunton the third most populated municipality in Bristol County behindNew Bedford andFall River.[3]Shaunna O'Connell is themayor of Taunton.
Founded in 1637 by members of thePlymouth Colony, Taunton is one of the oldest towns in the United States. Taunton is also known as the "Silver City", as it was a historic center of thesilver industry beginning in the 19th century when companies such as Reed & Barton,F. B. Rogers, Poole Silver, and others produced fine-quality silver goods in the city.
Since December 1914, the city of Taunton has provided a large annual light display each December onTaunton Green, giving it the additional nickname of theChristmas City.
The original boundaries of Taunton included the land now occupied by many surrounding towns, includingNorton,Easton,Mansfield,Dighton,Raynham,Berkley, andLakeville. Possession of the latter is still noted by the naming ofTaunton Hill inAssonet.
Taunton was founded by settlers from England and officiallyincorporated as atown on September 3, 1639. Most of the town's settlers were originally fromTaunton inSomerset,England, which led early settlers to name the settlement after that town. At the time of Taunton's incorporation, they explained their choice of name as being "in honor and love to our dear native country."[4] Prior to 1640, the Taunton area was called Cohannet, Tetiquet, or Titiquet.
TheEnglish founders of Taunton purchased the land from theWampanoag Natives in 1637 as part of the Tetiquet Purchase[5] and the remaining native families were relocated to thepraying town ofPonkapoag in present-dayCanton, Massachusetts.[6]Elizabeth Poole, contrary to local folklore,[a] did not take part in the town purchase but was among its greatest benefactors and played a significant role in the founding of its church.[7][8] Described as "the foundress of Taunton" and its matriarch, Poole "was accorded equality of rights, whether in the purchase of lands, [or] in the sharing of iron works holdings,"[9] having been a financier of the settlement's first dam and mill built for the manufacture ofbar iron.[7][b] Plymouth Colony was formally divided into counties on June 2, 1685, with Taunton becoming the shire town of Bristol County. The counties of Plymouth Colony were transferred to theProvince of Massachusetts Bay on the arrival of its charter and governor on May 14, 1692. The Taunton area has been the site of skirmishes and battles during various conflicts, includingKing Philip's War and theAmerican Revolution. Taunton was re-incorporated as a city on May 11, 1864.
In 1656, the first successful iron works inPlymouth Colony was established on the Two Mile River, in what is now part ofRaynham. TheTaunton Iron Works operated for over 200 years until 1876. It was the first of many iron industries in Taunton.
During the 19th century, Taunton became known as the "Silver City", as it was home to manysilversmithing operations, includingReed & Barton,F.B. Rogers, thePoole Silver Company, and theTaunton Silverplate Company.
In the 19th century, Taunton was also the center of an important iron-making industry, utilizing muchbog iron from the numerous swamps in the surrounding area. The iron industry in Taunton produced a variety of goods including stoves (Weir Stove Company/Glenwood), tacks (Field Tack Company) and machinery. One of the more successful companies during this period was theMason Machine Works, founded byWilliam Mason, which produced machinery for the textile industry, as well as steam locomotives. TheTaunton Locomotive Works (begun in 1846) also operated in the city during this time.
Taunton was also home to several textile mills (Whittenton Mills) and other industries, such as felt (Bacon Felt) and brick making.
During the 19th century, Taunton was a major shipping point for grain from the inland, rural farm areas of Massachusetts to the rest of the nation via Weir Village and theTaunton River. With the advent of the railroad, Taunton would also become an important transportation hub due to its central location.
The city formed the Taunton Municipal Light Plant (TMLP) in 1897, when it decided to purchase the floundering Taunton Electric Lighting Company, making it a publicly owned electric utility. Today, TMLP provides electric service to 34,000 customers in Taunton, Berkley, Raynham; and sections of Dighton, Lakeville, and Bridgewater. TMLP is governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners, which is elected by the citizens of Taunton.
In the late 19th century, Taunton was a stop on the national bicycle racing circuit.[10] In 1897, the one-mile (1.6 km) open event made news when third-place finisher W. E. Becker brutally attacked second-place winnerMajor Taylor, knocking him unconscious for fifteen minutes.[11]
Built in 1942, U.S. Army Camp Myles Standish was a departure point for over a million U.S. and allied military personnel bound for Europe duringWorld War II. It also functioned as a prisoner of war camp housing German and Italian soldiers. While Camp Myles Standish was later closed in 1946, it was re-purposed as the Paul A. Dever School which was a facility that housed mentally disabled persons. The school site of 220 acres (89 ha) was shut down in 1982. This portion was turned into an expansion scheme for the existing the Myles Standish Industrial Park, Taunton's north end, which is currently one of the largest in New England, covering an area over 800 acres (320 ha). It services manufacturing, offices, high tech, and distribution centers.[12]
TheNational Weather Service operates a regional weather forecast office that serves much of Massachusetts, all ofRhode Island, and most of northernConnecticut there. The National Weather Service also operates the Northeast River Forecast Center on the site, serving New England and most ofNew York state. Several major companies operate within the industrial park and in other parts of the city.
In October 2005, theWhittenton Pond Dam north of the downtown area threatened to fail following a week that brought 9 inches (230 mm) of rain to the city. Over 2,000 city residents were evacuated, all downtown businesses were ordered closed,[13] and Mayor Robert Nunes issued astate of emergency. It is estimated that if the dam had failed, theMill River would have inundated the downtown area with up to 6 feet (1.8 m) of water. In response, Massachusetts GovernorMitt Romney ordered an immediate inspection of high-risk dams throughout the Commonwealth.[14][15]
In 2010, the historicTaunton City Hall was severely damaged in an arson fire. City government operated out of the former Lowell M. Maxham School on Oak Street for ten years, until the building was renovated and re-opened in September 2020.[16][17][18]
In 2012 Taunton became the target location for aWampanoagcasino complex which was embroiled in conflict by competing regional bands of the Wampanoag over territory claims.[19] The proposed location for the casino-resort complex is adjacent to a local elementary school and the regional technical high school, generating protests by parent and teacher groups.[20]
On June 10, 2012, the City of Taunton dedicated the TauntonGlobal War on TerrorismWar Memorial onChurch Green.[21]
Taunton is home to aGeneral Dynamics Mission Systems factory, which develops military communications equipment.[27]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 48.4 square miles (125.4 km2), of which 46.4 square miles (120.1 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2), or 3.53%, is water.[28] It is the third-largest city by area in Massachusetts,[29] afterBoston andBarnstable.
Taunton has one major river, theTaunton River, along with its tributaries, including theMill River and theThree Mile River. The highest point in the city is near its southwest corner, with an elevation of 207 feet (63 m) above sea level. Prospect Hill, rising overLake Sabbatia north of the downtown, has an elevation of 197 feet (60 m).[30]
According to theKöppen climate classification, Taunton has either ahot-summer humid continental climate (abbreviatedDfa), or a hot-summerhumid sub-tropical climate (abbreviatedCfa), depending on the isotherm used.
| Climate data for Taunton, Massachusetts, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1997–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) | 70 (21) | 84 (29) | 94 (34) | 96 (36) | 99 (37) | 100 (38) | 103 (39) | 95 (35) | 87 (31) | 80 (27) | 76 (24) | 103 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 59.9 (15.5) | 58.1 (14.5) | 66.9 (19.4) | 78.9 (26.1) | 88.5 (31.4) | 91.6 (33.1) | 95.5 (35.3) | 93.0 (33.9) | 89.1 (31.7) | 80.2 (26.8) | 70.7 (21.5) | 63.1 (17.3) | 97.2 (36.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38.0 (3.3) | 40.0 (4.4) | 47.5 (8.6) | 58.7 (14.8) | 69.5 (20.8) | 77.8 (25.4) | 83.6 (28.7) | 82.4 (28.0) | 75.0 (23.9) | 63.1 (17.3) | 52.6 (11.4) | 43.3 (6.3) | 61.0 (16.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 28.8 (−1.8) | 30.7 (−0.7) | 38.0 (3.3) | 48.1 (8.9) | 58.7 (14.8) | 67.3 (19.6) | 73.2 (22.9) | 72.2 (22.3) | 64.7 (18.2) | 53.0 (11.7) | 43.4 (6.3) | 34.5 (1.4) | 51.1 (10.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19.7 (−6.8) | 21.4 (−5.9) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 37.5 (3.1) | 47.8 (8.8) | 56.8 (13.8) | 62.8 (17.1) | 62.0 (16.7) | 54.3 (12.4) | 43.0 (6.1) | 34.1 (1.2) | 25.7 (−3.5) | 41.1 (5.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −0.8 (−18.2) | 1.7 (−16.8) | 10.7 (−11.8) | 23.2 (−4.9) | 32.1 (0.1) | 40.9 (4.9) | 49.5 (9.7) | 45.9 (7.7) | 34.7 (1.5) | 25.3 (−3.7) | 17.3 (−8.2) | 8.1 (−13.3) | −3.1 (−19.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −12 (−24) | −16 (−27) | −6 (−21) | 14 (−10) | 27 (−3) | 36 (2) | 43 (6) | 42 (6) | 31 (−1) | 19 (−7) | 10 (−12) | −3 (−19) | −16 (−27) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.72 (94) | 3.43 (87) | 5.05 (128) | 4.75 (121) | 3.38 (86) | 4.08 (104) | 3.50 (89) | 3.61 (92) | 3.88 (99) | 4.28 (109) | 4.15 (105) | 4.94 (125) | 48.77 (1,239) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.3 (21) | 7.0 (18) | 4.9 (12) | 1.6 (4.1) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 3.7 (9.4) | 25.7 (65.01) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.6 | 7.5 | 8.6 | 10.2 | 11.1 | 9.5 | 8.8 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.0 | 10.1 | 10.3 | 114.6 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 3.6 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 9.7 |
| Source 1: NOAA[31] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)[32] | |||||||||||||
There are nine designated historic districts within the city:
Due to the annexation of towns from the original town of Taunton, the city now is irregularly shaped; with it (along with neighboring Raynham) roughly making a triangle. The city is bordered byNorton to the northwest,Easton to the north,Raynham to the northeast,Middleborough to the east,Lakeville to the southeast,Berkley andDighton to the south, andRehoboth to the west.
City neighborhoods include the Bird Lanes, Clearview Estates,East Taunton, Elliot's Corner, Herring Run Estates, Linden Estates, Matthews Landing,North Taunton,Oakland, Pine Crest Estates, Pine Hill Estates, Wades Corner,Weir Village, Westville, Whittenton, Whittenton Junction, Britannia Village or Britanniaville, Willis Lake Village, and Woodward Estates. Taunton is also home to almost the entirety ofMassasoit State Park in East Taunton, and a large portion of theHockomock Swamp Wildlife Management Area in North Taunton.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 3,804 | — |
| 1800 | 3,860 | +1.5% |
| 1810 | 3,907 | +1.2% |
| 1820 | 4,520 | +15.7% |
| 1830 | 6,042 | +33.7% |
| 1840 | 7,645 | +26.5% |
| 1850 | 10,441 | +36.6% |
| 1860 | 15,376 | +47.3% |
| 1870 | 18,629 | +21.2% |
| 1880 | 21,213 | +13.9% |
| 1890 | 25,448 | +20.0% |
| 1900 | 31,036 | +22.0% |
| 1910 | 34,259 | +10.4% |
| 1920 | 37,137 | +8.4% |
| 1930 | 37,355 | +0.6% |
| 1940 | 37,395 | +0.1% |
| 1950 | 40,109 | +7.3% |
| 1960 | 41,132 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 43,756 | +6.4% |
| 1980 | 45,001 | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 49,832 | +10.7% |
| 2000 | 55,976 | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 55,874 | −0.2% |
| 2020 | 59,408 | +6.3% |
| 2023* | 60,412 | +1.7% |
| * = population estimate. Source:United States census records andPopulation Estimates Program data.[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] Source: U.S. Decennial Census[45] | ||
As of thecensus[46] of 2000, there were 55,874 people, 22,045 households, and 14,473 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,200.1 inhabitants per square mile (463.4/km2). There were 22,908 housing units at an average density of 491.5 per square mile (189.8/km2). The racial makeup of thecity was 83.67% (79.7% Non-Hispanic)White, 4.84%African American, 0.26%Native American, 1.0%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 5.59% fromother races, and 2.21% from two or more races. Persons ofHispanic orLatino ethnicity constituted 6.73% of the population.
The city of Taunton was very multi-cultural with peoples of different origins living within the city. 34% of the city wasLuso-American. The biggest ethnic backgrounds people claimed were 23%Portuguese, 17%Irish, 9%English, 9%French, 8%Cape Verdean, and 4%Puerto Rican. Most of Taunton's immigration occurred near the turn of the 1900s when immigrants came to work in the city's mills.
There were 22,045households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% weremarried couples living together, 15.4% had a femalehouseholder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. Of all households 28.2% were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
Males had a median income of $36,895 versus $27,686 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $19,899. About 10.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
Numerous religious groups exist within the city, including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim and Jewish congregations. The First Parish Church - now aUnitarian Universalist church, located at Church Green at the east end of downtown - was founded in 1637, before the Town of Taunton was even established. The current church dates from 1830. The Pilgrim Congregational Church on Broadway was formed in 1821, its current church built in 1851. The city's oldest Roman Catholic parish - St. Mary's Church - is located further north at the intersection of Broadway and Washington Street, and is known as Saint Mary's Square. The town is home to the IQRA Islamic Center on Whittenton Street, and the local Muslim congregation is currently raising funds to build a new mosque. In the 1880s, Jewish immigrants from Russia began to move to the town; Congregation Agudath Achim was founded in 1911. The congregation is now an independent, progressive synagogue.
Taunton's economy has historically been based onsilversmithing andshipbuilding. Reed & Barton produced the1996 Summer Olympics medals and silverware used exclusively for theWhite House. Also, the city produced the anchor for theUSSConstitution. The nearby town ofRaynham produced the anchor for the Civil War-eraironcladUSSMonitor.
Today, the city's economy has emphases onsemiconductor, silicon, andelectronics manufacturing. It is home to the corporate headquarters of many leading corporations in various industries. Currently, the city is trying to attractbiotechnology research companies to its industrial parks.
Silver City Galleria was a largeshopping mall in Taunton catering to the local city and to the neighboring towns and cities of Raynham, Berkley, Rehoboth, Dighton, New Bedford, Fall River, Norton, Easton, Assonet, Acushnet, Bridgewater, Lakeville, Middleboro, and Freetown. It was open for 28 years, closing on February 29, 2020 and was demolished on May 9, 2021.[47]
TheTaunton Green is the city's central square. Early in its history, "The Green" was used as a training ground for militias in theAmerican Revolution. Some say it was also the site of the historic "Liberty & Union"/"Taunton" flag raising in 1774 by theSons of Liberty, prior to the American Revolution.[48] Since the early 20th century, Taunton Green has temporarily been transformed during thewinter holiday season into a grand display of holiday lights, scenes, and extravagant events. This is where and how the city earned its unofficial nickname in the surrounding areas as the "Christmas City."
"The Green" continues to provide a centralized location for citywide Christmas activities, other holidays, events, and parades for the citizens of Taunton. A fountain is located at the center of the Taunton Green. Always to be seen flapping together in emblematic unison, the "Liberty & Union" flag and the U.S. flag fly side-by-side on the flagpole at the city's center.
The city is served by a central public library, theTaunton Public Library, which opened in 1903 and has undergone several expansions and renovations since that time. Also of note is theOld Colony Historical Society, which archives the city and region's past.
The city is home to two state parks operated by theMassachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation:Massasoit State Park inEast Taunton andWatson Pond State Park in the north part of the city.
The city of Taunton has a wide array of architecture ranging from the colonial period to modern times. There are numerous pre-Revolutionary War private homes within the city. The oldest of these is theJoseph Willis House on Worcester Street, which to about 1688. The city has over one hundred buildings listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.
Perhaps the most impressive structure in the city is the toweringBristol County Superior Courthouse, which built in 1894 and designed by Frank Irving Cooper. With its tall, copper dome the Superior Courthouse is visible from many surrounding areas. It was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1978. Currently, the Courthouse Complex is undergoing a major expansion and renovation program.
Other significant buildings in the city include some fine, stone churches; including the First Parish Church (1830); the Pilgrim Congregational Church (1851); andSt. Mary's Church (1868) on Broadway.
Downtown Taunton has a number of historic, commercial blocks along Main Street, Taunton Green, and Broadway. These were built during the period between around 1840 to 1920.
Many large homes built by the wealthy industrialists and merchants of the late 19th and early 20th century lineRoute 44 both east (Dean Street) and west (Winthrop Street) of the city center; however, a majority of the city is occupied by more modest, wood-framed single and multi-family homes, many over 100 years old. Modern, single-familysubdivisions - built mostly since the 1950s - exist on the outskirts of the sprawling city.
TheCentral Fire Station at 50 School Street is recognized as the oldest functioning station house in the United States. The historicTaunton City Hall is located adjacent toChurch Green.
One of New England's oldest historical societies, theOld Colony Historical Society is located on the picturesque Church Green. Founded in 1853, the Society maintains a museum of regional objects, houses a research library specializing in local history and genealogy, and hosts arts and cultural events throughout the year.
Taunton has four art galleries: Taunton Art Association (John Baradas Gallery), Hughes/Donahue Gallery, Art Euphoric, and the Trescott Street Gallery. The Taunton Art Association was founded in 1973 but had it roots in the Girl's Club in the early 1960s. Hughes/Donahue Gallery, founded in 2007, is a local community gallery serving local Taunton artists, as well as the surrounding areas of Southeastern Massachusetts and the cities of Providence, Rhode Island, and Washington, DC. Art Euphoric, founded in 2008, has both visual and craft exhibits and sales. The Trescott Street Gallery, founded in 2012, is primarily a visual-arts gallery but also exhibits crafts.
In March 2008, Hollywood directorMartin Scorsese filmed a portion of the filmShutter Island starringLeonardo DiCaprio in Taunton on-location at the Whittenton Mills Complex.[49]Surrogates - starringBruce Willis - was partly filmed in the city, at the old Paul Dever school.[50]
As the seat ofBristol County, Taunton hosts several important county institutions, including the Taunton District Court, Bristol County Register of Deeds, and the historicBristol County Superior Courthouse.
Taunton operates under amayor–council government. The mayor is elected to a two-year term and serves as the city's chief executive.Shaunna O'Connell has served as mayor since January 2020, becoming the first woman elected to the office in Taunton's history.[51] She succeeded Thomas Hoye Jr., who resigned after being appointed Register of Probate for Bristol County byGovernor Charlie Baker.[52]
The Taunton City Council functions as the legislative branch and consists of nine at-large members elected to two-year terms. Voters may select up to nine candidates in municipal elections, with the top vote-getters elected to the council. The council presidency rotates annually, traditionally going to the most senior member who has not yet held the position.[53]
In addition to the City Council, Taunton voters elect members to several other local bodies, including the School Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, and Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant (TMLP) Commission. Other commissions and boards are filled through mayoral appointments and City Council confirmations.
As of May 2025, Taunton is represented in theMassachusetts House of Representatives by:
In theMassachusetts Senate, Taunton is represented by Sen.Kelly Dooner (R–1st Plymouth and Bristol District). Federally, the city is part ofMassachusetts' 4th congressional district, which is represented by Rep.Jake Auchincloss. Taunton is also represented in theU.S. Senate by SenatorsElizabeth Warren andEd Markey.
Taunton has been home to several notable political figures. Among them isRobert Treat Paine, a signer of theDeclaration of Independence and the firstMassachusettsAttorney General following American independence.Marcus Morton, a former governor, andStephanie Cutter, a prominent Democratic political consultant, also hail from Taunton.
TwelveU.S. presidents have visited Taunton.[54] Notably,Abraham Lincoln campaigned in the city on behalf ofZachary Taylor before the1848 presidential election, twelve years before Lincoln waselected president himself.[55] Most recently,Bill Clinton visited Friedman Middle School ahead ofSuper Tuesday forHillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.[56]
During World War II,Camp Myles Standish served as a majorprisoner-of-war camp and staging area for over one million Allied soldiers. The site was briefly considered as a potential location for theUnited Nations headquarters.[57]
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third parties | Total Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 56.01%14,996 | 41.64%11,148 | 2.35%629 | 26,773 | 14.37% |
| 2016 | 52.08%12,365 | 42.01%9,973 | 5.91%1,404 | 23,742 | 10.07% |
| 2012 | 59.58%13,769 | 38.62%8,925 | 1.81%418 | 23,112 | 20.96% |
| 2008 | 58.77%13,243 | 38.50%8,677 | 2.73%615 | 22,535 | 20.26% |
| 2004 | 62.22%13,206 | 36.77%7,804 | 1.00%213 | 21,223 | 25.45% |
| 2000 | 65.10%12,886 | 29.38%5,816 | 5.51%1,091 | 19,793 | 35.72% |
| 1996 | 63.27%10,635 | 23.76%3,994 | 12.97%2,181 | 16,810 | 39.51% |
| 1992 | 44.75%8,683 | 26.02%5,049 | 29.23%5,673 | 19,405 | 15.51% |
| 1988 | 52.82%8,953 | 46.05%7,805 | 1.13%191 | 16,949 | 6.77% |
| 1984 | 47.12%7,516 | 52.27%8,337 | 0.61%97 | 15,950 | 5.15% |
| 1980 | 45.73%7,591 | 39.82%6,610 | 14.45%2,398 | 16,599 | 5.91% |
| 1976 | 63.06%11,329 | 33.67%6,049 | 3.27%588 | 17,966 | 29.39% |
| 1972 | 58.91%10,009 | 40.47%6,876 | 0.62%105 | 16,990 | 18.44% |
| 1968 | 68.45%11,735 | 27.20%4,663 | 4.35%745 | 17,143 | 41.25% |
| 1964 | 79.83%13,786 | 19.99%3,452 | 0.18%31 | 17,269 | 59.84% |
| 1960 | 67.56%12,652 | 32.32%6,053 | 0.12%22 | 18,727 | 35.24% |
| 1956 | 43.48%8,001 | 56.30%10,360 | 0.22%41 | 18,402 | 12.82% |
| 1952 | 50.63%9,748 | 49.19%9,471 | 0.18%35 | 19,254 | 1.44% |
| 1948 | 64.84%11,592 | 34.52%6,172 | 0.64%115 | 17,879 | 30.31% |
| 1944 | 56.51%8,645 | 43.36%6,633 | 0.13%20 | 15,298 | 13.15% |
| 1940 | 57.54%9,687 | 42.21%7,106 | 0.25%42 | 16,835 | 15.33% |
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of August 24, 2024[59] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Number of Voters | Percentage | |||
| Democratic | 9,397 | 27.9% | |||
| Republican | 3,366 | 9.5% | |||
| Unaffiliated | 30,306 | 60.9% | |||
| Libertarian | 210 | 0.7% | |||
| Total | 43,640 | 100% | |||
Education in Taunton ranges from preschool through post-secondary education.
Taunton has nine public elementary schools and three public middle schools.[60]
Taunton has three public high schools:Taunton High School, Taunton Alternative High School, andBristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School.
Closed former schools in Taunton include:
The city has one Catholic school of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Fall River - Our Lady of Lourdes School - in Weir Village,[62] serving grades Pre-K–8.[63]
Taunton formerly had one Catholic middle-high school,Coyle and Cassidy School. Prior to 2014 it had only high school and a separate Taunton Catholic Middle School provided middle school, but that year the two merged into the Coyle and Cassidy building.[64] Coyle and Cassidy closed in the wake of theCOVID-19 pandemic and merged into Connolly, but Connolly did not take Coyle and Cassidy's middle school students, who were instead directed to Our Lady of Lourdes School.[65]
It also formerly housed St. Mary's Primary School, a Catholic elementary which opened in 1908.[66] It was previously known as St. Mary's School and St. Mary's Elementary School.[62]c. 2008 its enrollment was about 266; this fell to 133 in 2018. The school closed that year. Principal Michael O'Brien stated that the state of the physical plant was one factor in the school's closure.[67] The school did not have an elevator. In addition to the physical plant factor, the diocese also no longer wished to cover the school's expenses. In 2018 it was $500,000 in debt for salaries and other items, and it also had a $1.5 million debt for 2006–2014 medical/dental insurance costs.[62]
Taunton is home to a satellite campus ofBristol Community College, which is located at the (former) Taunton Catholic Middle School. In addition, the city houses career schools such as the Rob Roy Academy beauty school.Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School offers adult education classes.
Taunton has localPublic, educational, and government access (PEG)cable TV channels which include thePublic-access television Taunton Community Access and Media, Inc. (Comcast Channel 15; Verizon 22),Educational television Taunton Educational Network (Comcast Channel 9; Verizon 23) which is run by the Taunton High School TV Studio andGovernment-access television Taunton Municipal Network (Comcast Channel 17; Verizon 24). Comcast's Taunton system carries all Providence and Boston stations as well and both markets are available over-the-air. The two radio stations based in Taunton are AM 1530/ 99.7 FM WVBF (licensed to nearby Middleborough Center), which features local programming and the Talking Information Center out of Marshfield, a non-profit radio station serving the blind and print impaired population of Massachusetts; and WSNE-FM 93.3, which primarily serves the Providence radio market and has its studios in the city ofProvidence.
From 1949 until 2007, Taunton was also served by local radio stationWPEP-AM 1570. However the station was silenced with the upgrade of Keating Wilcox's station also on 1570, inBeverly, Massachusetts. The city is now served by AM 1530/99.7 FM WVBF. Since August 2019, the station has been owned by Dean of the State Senate Marc R. Pacheco of Taunton, and programmed by longtime New England radio veteran Chris Keach, who started work at the station in 2010 when it was owned by Steven Callahan and managed by Tony Lopes. The AM signal now broadcasts with 5000 watts of power, and covers a large portion of Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Taunton is served by several publications including theSilver City Bulletin,Brockton Enterprise, and theTaunton Daily Gazette. Regional papers of importance such as theBoston Globe,Boston Herald, andProvidence Journal, are also widely available.
Some of the major Internet providers in Taunton areComcast,EarthLink, SBC Yahoo! Dial, andVerizon. TheTaunton Municipal Lighting Plant (TMLP), Taunton'selectric company, is also an Internet service provider for the city and its surrounding towns.
Taunton has 127 firefighters on the Taunton Fire Department (TFD). The TFD currently operates out of five fire stations, located throughout the city, and operates a fire apparatus fleet of five engines, three ladders, one brush unit, one dive rescue unit, two fireboats, and several other special, support, and reserve units. The current Chief of Department is Timothy J. Bradshaw.[68]
Taunton is home to theMorton Hospital and Medical Center, located on Washington Street, just north of the city center.
Taunton State Hospital is a psychiatric hospital located on Hodges Avenue. One of its historic old buildings had to be demolished after it was severely damaged by fire in 2006. This hospital is now one of the very few mental health hospitals in Massachusetts for longer-term, in-patient care of psychiatric patients.[citation needed]
Electricity is provided to residents by the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant (TMLP), located in the south end. The city has a municipal water system, with a treatment plant and water supply in nearbyLakeville, as well as a public sewer system with a treatment plant on West Water Street in the south end of the city, discharging into theTaunton River.
Taunton is the central highway hub of southeastern Massachusetts. Much of the eastern parts of the state's major highways intersect and/or run through the city, especially at its center.US 44,MA 138, andMA 140 intersect at Taunton Green, the square at Taunton's center. MA 140 is also accessible from the eastern neighborhood of the city, popularly referred to as "East Taunton." Additionally,MA 24 and MA 140 intersect near East Taunton, and it is at that junction that Route 140 ceases to be a two-lane divided freeway from the south and becomes a smaller state highway to the north.Interstate 495 runs through the northern portion of Taunton, unofficially referred to as "North Taunton", and parallel to Myles Standish Industrial Park, Taunton's main industrial park.
Various smaller routes run through other parts of the city. These include a small portion ofMA 104, close to the Taunton-Raynham city limits, andMA 79, close to the Taunton-Berkley-Lakeville (Plymouth County) city-town-county limits. Taunton is the western terminus of MA 104. It merges into US 44 after entering the city.
Taunton has oneMBTA Commuter Rail station –East Taunton station. The proposed second phase of theSouth Coast Rail project would adda stop near Downtown Taunton on Dean Street. TheGreater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) provides busmass transit. TheMiddleboro Secondary andNew Bedford Main Line freight rail lines pass through Taunton.
Taunton has its ownmunicipal airport, serving mostly smaller craft and occasional commuter jets. The nearest airport with national airline service isT.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island, and the nearest international service is atLogan International Airport in Boston.
Taunton is asister city of:
Taunton,Somerset, England,United Kingdom
Angra do Heroismo,Terceira,Azores,PortugalLagoa (Azores),Sao Miguel, Azores, PortugalShe would become the first woman to found a town in the Americas.
Though Elizabeth Poole did not buy 'Taunton,' as the popular account sometimes has it, but only a small portion of the eastern borders of the then unoccupied territory, it is the brief narrative of her coming here that shall always remain like a star in the crown of the beginnings of the city. We have been told of her arrival from England to Tetiquet by way of Dorchester, and how she actively interested herself in every fundamental project of the busy settlement...She was interested in establishing a church here, according to her teaching and light, and with William Hooke and Nicholas Street, Oxford University graduates, she did begin that church. It is plain, too, that here she was accorded equality of rights, whether in the purchase of lands, in the sharing of iron works holdings, or in the establishment of religious interests.
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