Editing Taunton, Massachusetts (section)

== History ==
=== Beginnings ===
Taunton was founded by settlers from England and officially [[incorporation (municipal government)|incorporated]] as a [[New England town|town]] on September 3, 1639. Most of the town's settlers were originally from [[Taunton]] in [[Somerset]], [[Kingdom of England|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."<ref>{{Cite book|title=A History of Taunton, Massachusetts|last=Hanna|first=William F.|publisher=Old Colony Historical Society|year=2008|isbn=978-0-9798867-2-0|location=Taunton, Massachusetts|pages=11}}</ref> Prior to 1640, the Taunton area was called Cohannet, Tetiquet, or Titiquet.

The [[English Empire|English]] founders of Taunton purchased the land from the [[Wampanoag]] Natives in 1637 as part of the Tetiquet Purchase<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=CPr5qFSi7QUC&dq=tetiquet+purchase&pg=PP11 An Historical Memoir of the Colony of New Plymouth], by Francis Baylies, Wiggins & Lunt Press, 1866.</ref> and the remaining native families were relocated to the [[praying town]] of [[Ponkapoag]] in present-day [[Canton, Massachusetts]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6c0pAAAAYAAJ&q=taunton&pg=PP1 Indian history, biography & genealogy], by Ebineezer Weaver Pierce, published by Zerviah Gould Mitchell, 1878.</ref> [[Elizabeth Poole]], contrary to local folklore,{{efn|"Her name does not appear as one of the original purchasers, although another lady 'Widdo Randall,' does. It is known that Ms. Poole became the owner of land in this vicinity, and an active promoter of its interests."<ref name="qmillbook">{{cite book |year=1889 |title=Quarter Millennial Celebration of the City of Taunton, Massachusetts |url=https://archive.org/stream/quartermillinnia00taun#page/n5/mode/2up |location=Taunton, MA |publisher=Press of Charles H. Buffington, City Government [of Taunton] |pages=33–34, 42 }}</ref> }} 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.<ref name="qmillbook" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/elizabeth-poole-first-woman-found-town-americas/ |title=Elizabeth Poole, the Puritan Who Founded a Town |publisher=New England Historical Society |access-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206060921/http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/elizabeth-poole-first-woman-found-town-americas/ |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |quote=She would become the first woman to found a town in the Americas. |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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,"<ref name="1924hist">{{cite book |editor1-last=Hutt |editor1-first=Frank Wolcott |year= 1924|volume=I |title=A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts |chapter= Chapter III. The First Comers to Taunton |url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89064065782;view=1up;seq=98|location=New York and Chicago|publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc. |page=74 |quote=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.}}</ref> having been a financier of the settlement's first dam and mill built for the manufacture of [[wrought iron|bar iron]].<ref name="qmillbook" />{{efn|"Several of the leading citizens of the place, including George Hall, Richard Williams, Walter Deane, James Walker, Oliver Purchis, Elizabeth Poole and others formed a joint stock company with a capital of £600, and built a dam accorss the Two Mile river, on the main road leading to Raynham, and made all the preparations for the manufacture of bar iron from bog ore."<ref name="qmillbook" />}}  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 the [[Province 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, including [[King Philip's War]] and the [[American Revolution]]. Taunton was re-incorporated as a city on May 11, 1864.

=== Industrial legacy ===
In 1656, the first successful iron works in [[Plymouth Colony]] was established on the Two Mile River, in what is now part of [[Raynham, Massachusetts|Raynham]]. The [[Taunton 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 many [[silversmithing]] operations, including [[Reed & Barton]], [[F. B. Rogers Silver Co.|F.B. Rogers]], the [[Poole Silver Company]], and the [[Taunton Silverplate Company]].

In the 19th century, Taunton was also the center of an important iron-making industry, utilizing much [[bog 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 the [[Mason Machine Works]], founded by [[William Mason (locomotive builder)|William Mason]], which produced machinery for the textile industry, as well as steam locomotives. The [[Taunton 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 the [[Taunton 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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Balf |first1=Todd |title=Major : a black athlete, a White era, and the fight to be the world's fastest human being |date=2008 |publisher=Crown Publishers |location=New York |isbn=9780307236586 |edition=1st}}</ref> In 1897, the {{Convert|1|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} open event made news when third-place finisher W. E. Becker brutally attacked second-place winner [[Major Taylor]], knocking him unconscious for fifteen minutes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trouble on Taunton's Track |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1897/09/24/105953463.html?pageNumber=4 |access-date=June 13, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=September 24, 1897}}</ref>

=== Twentieth century ===
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 during [[World 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 {{convert|220|acre|ha|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|800|acre|ha|abbr=on}}.  It services manufacturing, offices, high tech, and distribution centers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tauntondevelopment.org/msip/index1.htm|title=Myles Standish Industrial Park|accessdate=October 22, 2021}}</ref>

The [[National Weather Service]] operates a regional weather forecast office that serves much of Massachusetts, all of [[Rhode Island]], and most of northern [[Connecticut]] there.  The National Weather Service also operates the Northeast River Forecast Center on the site, serving New England and most of [[New York State|New York state]].  Several major companies operate within the industrial park and in other parts of the city.

=== Twenty-first century ===
In October 2005, the [[Whittenton Pond Dam]] north of the downtown area threatened to fail following a week that brought {{convert|9|in}} of rain to the city. Over 2,000 city residents were evacuated, all downtown businesses were ordered closed,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/town-braces-for-massive-flood/ |title=Town Braces for Massive Flood |publisher=CBS News |date=October 18, 2005 |access-date=June 9, 2007}}</ref> and Mayor Robert Nunes issued a [[state of emergency]]. It is estimated that if the dam had failed, the [[Mill River (Taunton River)|Mill River]] would have inundated the downtown area with up to {{convert|6|ft}} of water. In response, Massachusetts Governor [[Mitt Romney]] ordered an immediate inspection of high-risk dams throughout the Commonwealth.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mass-dam-continues-to-hold/ |title=Mass. Dam Continues to Hold |publisher=CBS News |date=October 18, 2005 |access-date=June 9, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/18/massachusetts.dam/index.html |title=Officials still fear dam collapse |date=October 18, 2005 |publisher=CNN |access-date=June 9, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205015356/http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/18/massachusetts.dam/index.html |archive-date=February 5, 2007}}</ref>

In 2010, the historic [[Taunton 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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Winokoor|first1=Charles|title=Taunton City Council votes to OK using $53,000 for new City Hall design plan|url=http://www.tauntongazette.com/article/20150819/news/150816194|access-date=March 21, 2016|newspaper=Taunton Gazette|date=August 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Sudborough">{{cite news |last1=Sudborough |first1=Susannah |title=Taunton's permanent City Hall to reopen in October -- 10 years after arson |url=https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/special/2020/09/25/tauntons-permanent-city-hall-to-reopen-in-october-10-years-after-arson/42887715/ |access-date=January 25, 2021 |publisher=Taunton Daily Gazette |date=September 25, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Pitts">{{cite news |last1=Pitts |first1=Amanda |title=Newly renovated, expanded Taunton City Hall to reopen next month a decade after arson |url=https://www.abc6.com/newly-renovated-expanded-taunton-city-hall-to-reopen-next-month-a-decade-after-arson/ |access-date=January 25, 2021 |agency=ABC-6 |publisher=WLNE |date=September 28, 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Taunton Court Complex.jpg|alt=The building to the left is now used as a performing arts center called "The District Center for the Arts"|thumb|Taunton Courthouse Complex]]

In 2012 Taunton became the target location for a [[Wampanoag people|Wampanoag]] [[Native American gaming|casino]] complex which was embroiled in conflict by competing regional bands of the Wampanoag over territory claims.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120707055131/http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-16/metro/31345614_1_mashpee-wampanoag-indian-casino-tribe Casino big in Taunton spurs tribal turf fight], Boston Globe, April 16, 2012.</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x1221868558/Gambling-with-East-Taunton-education-Parents-express-concern-over-potential-casino-near-schools Gambling with East Taunton education, parents express concerns over potential casino near schools], Taunton Gazette, April 13, 2012.</ref>

On June 10, 2012, the City of Taunton dedicated the Taunton [[Global War on Terrorism]] [[War Memorial]] on [[Church Green (Taunton, Massachusetts)|Church Green]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tauntongazette.com/topstories/x2067832935/Hundreds-attend-Tauntons-Global-War-on-Terrorism-Memorial-dedication-ceremony|title=Hundreds attend Taunton's Global War on Terrorism Memorial dedication ceremony|first=Marc|last=Larocque|website=tauntongazette.com}}</ref>

Taunton is home to a [[General Dynamics Mission Systems]] factory, which develops military communications equipment.{{refn|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Contracts for April 30, 2020|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2171906/|access-date=February 6, 2021|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Contracts for May 29, 2020|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2202498/|access-date=February 6, 2021|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Contracts for August 18, 2020|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2317151/|access-date=February 6, 2021|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Contracts for September 25, 2020|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2362207/|access-date=February 6, 2021|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Contracts for September 30, 2020|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2367105/|access-date=February 6, 2021|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|language=en-US}}</ref>}}