Editing Taunton, Massachusetts (section)

=== 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>