Editing Dighton, Massachusetts

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Dighton, Massachusetts
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = 
| image_skyline                   = View Of North Dighton Village in 1881.jpg
| imagesize                       = 250px
| image_caption                   = View of North Dighton Village in 1881
| image_seal                      = Seal of Dighton, Massachusetts.png
| image_flag                      = Flag of Dighton, Massachusetts.jpg
| image_map                       = Bristol County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Dighton highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Massachusetts]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Bristol County, Massachusetts|Bristol]]
| established_title               = Deeded
| established_date                = 1672<ref name="Dighton">{{cite web |url=http://www.dighton-ma.gov/Public_Documents/index |title=Dighton Massachusetts Town Website |publisher=Dighton Massachusetts Town Website |access-date=December 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314133846/http://www.dighton-ma.gov/public_documents/index |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| established_title2              = Incorporated
| established_date2               = 1712<ref name="Dighton"/>
| established_title3              = 
| established_date3               = 
| government_type                 = [[Open town meeting]]
| leader_title                    = 
| leader_name                     = 
| leader_title1                   = <!--Board of <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
| leader_name1                    = 
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 58.5
| area_total_sq_mi                = 
| area_land_km2                   = 57.0
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 
| area_water_km2                  = 1.5
| area_water_sq_mi                = 
| population_as_of                = 2022
| settlement_type                = [[New England town|Town]]
| population_total                = 8101
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_density_sq_mi        = 
| elevation_m                     = 6
| elevation_ft                    = 19
| timezone                        = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset                      = -5
| timezone_DST                    = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST                  = -4
| coordinates                     = {{coord|41|48|50|N|71|07|15|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
| website                         = {{URL|www.dighton-ma.gov}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code                     = 02715 (Dighton)<br/>02764 ([[North Dighton, Massachusetts|North Dighton]])
| area_code                       = [[Area code 508|508]] / [[Area code 774|774]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 25-16950
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 0618280
| footnotes                       = 
| name                            = 
}}
'''Dighton''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Bristol County, Massachusetts]], United States. The population was 8,101 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2500516950| title=Census - Geography Profile: Dighton town, Bristol County, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 11, 2021}}</ref> The town is located on the western shore of the [[Taunton River]] in the southeastern part of the state.

== History ==
===Crossroads===
[[File:Dighton Wharves historic marker.jpg|thumb|left|Site of Dighton Ferry Landing]]
Dighton's location has long made it a crossroads for travel. The "Old Bristol Path" took early settlers from the Pilgrim settlement in [[Plymouth, Massachusetts]] to [[Bristol, Rhode Island]], the home of Massasoit.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|1}} A ferry took travelers across the Taunton River.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|34}} Later, a stage coach ran through Dighton, connecting [[Taunton, Massachusetts|Taunton]] and Bristol.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|2}} Dighton was also along the route between [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]] and Taunton.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|16}}

===Origin===
Dighton was originally part of [[Taunton, Massachusetts|Taunton]]'s South Purchase and other surrounding towns. It was separated in 1672,<ref name="Dighton"/> officially incorporated in 1712.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Dighton-Massachusetts.html |title=Dighton Massachusetts |publisher=City-Data.com |access-date=November 10, 2012}}</ref> It was named for Frances Dighton Williams, wife of Richard Williams, a town elder.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n105 106]}}</ref>  At the time of incorporation, the town included land on both sides of the Taunton River, including the land of Assonet Neck, which includes [[Dighton Rock]], a rock found in the shallows of the river which includes cryptic carvings whose origins are debated to this day.  However, in 1799, that land on the east bank of the river was annexed by [[Berkley, Massachusetts|Berkley]], thus giving that town the claim of being the home of the rock.

===Molasses Affair===
In 1765, shortly after the renewal of the [[Navigation Acts#Molasses Act 1733|Molasses Act]], [[Dighton Wharves Historic District|Dighton's wharves]] were the site of the "Molasses Affair," a protest of British taxes on molasses similar to the more famous [[Boston Tea Party]].<ref name=MACRIS>{{cite web|url=https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=dig.d|title=NRHP nomination form and MACRIS inventory record for Dighton Wharves Historic District|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> A local ship reported a cargo of 63 casks of molasses to the British custom officials, but the ship actually contained double that number.<ref name=MACRIS/> The customs official ordered the ship's cargo impounded while he departed for Newport for assistance.<ref name=MACRIS/> While he was gone, forty local men with blackened faces stole the cargo, ran the ship aground, and drilled holes in the hull to protest British tax policies.<ref name=MACRIS/>

===Revolution===
During the time of the [[American Revolutionary War]], Dighton gave refuge to several refugees from [[Newport, Rhode Island]] who had fled the British occupation there. These included [[Ezra Stiles]] and [[William Ellery]].<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|104}} Stiles kept a diary of his time in Dighton.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|104}} In January 1778 the town council voted in favor of the [[Articles of Confederation]].<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|116}}

===Industries===

As it was located at the beginning of the tidewater of the river, Dighton was a shipbuilding community, and even had status as a [[Port of call (nautical term)|port of call]]. North of Dighton the [[Taunton River]] becomes too shallow for ships to navigate,<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|152}}<ref name=MACRIS /> and this, along with its centralized location, allowed Dighton to become a shipping hub for southeastern Massachusetts.  In 1789 Dighton was made a port of entry for the surrounding towns.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|151}} Ships would unload in Dighton and goods were either transferred to smaller boats or towed by oxen along a tow path on the east side of the river to Taunton.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|151}}

[[Herring]] were plentiful in the Taunton River, and at one point Dighton's herring fishery provided more income to the town than any other industry.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|144}} Fish were preserved in salt and exported as far away as the [[West Indies]].<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|144}}
[[File:Cpt. Thomas Coram by W. Nutter, 1796.JPG|thumb|right|150px|Thomas Coram]]
Shipbuilding started in Dighton as early as 1698. [[Thomas Coram]] built [[Coram Shipyard Historic District|Dighton's first shipyard]] on the west side of the Taunton River.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|148}} Shipbuilding grew into a significant industry after 1800, peaking around 1850.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|149–150}}  During 1840–1845 twenty-two schooners, two sloops, four brigs, and three barks were built in Dighton.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|149–150}}

There were also cotton mills, paper mills, manufacturers and farming concerns in the town. From before the Civil War to at least 1912, the town was regionally known for its strawberry farms.<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|233}} With time, however, many of these industries left, leaving the town as a rural suburban community with some small farms.

===Tricentennial===
In 2012, Dighton celebrated its Tricentennial with town selectmen donning historic costumes and crossing the Taunton River to Ferry Landing. Afterwards they held a ceremony at Founders Hall.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nichols|first1=Christopher|title=Dighton Tricentennial marks town's Founder's Day Saturday|url=http://www.tauntongazette.com/article/20120511/News/305119907|access-date=April 16, 2018|publisher=Taunton Daily Gazette|date=May 11, 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|58.5|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|57.0|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.5|km2|disp=flip}}, or 2.56%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500516950| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212163207/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500516950| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Dighton town, Bristol County, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=February 5, 2013}}</ref>

Dighton is bordered by [[Rehoboth, Massachusetts|Rehoboth]] to the west, [[Swansea, Massachusetts|Swansea]] to the southwest, [[Somerset, Massachusetts|Somerset]] to the south, the [[Taunton River]] and the town of [[Berkley, Massachusetts|Berkley]] to the east, and the city of [[Taunton, Massachusetts|Taunton]] to the north. In addition to being bordered by the Taunton River, it also is bordered by the [[Three Mile River]], a tributary which empties into the Taunton along the northeast border of town.  The town is also crossed by the [[Segreganset River]], another tributary of the Taunton which flows through the center of town, as well as several smaller brooks. The highest point in the town is in its northwest corner, where the elevation rises above {{convert|72|m|disp=flip}} above sea level.<ref>U.S. Geological Survey ''Taunton, MA'' 7.5 by 15-minute quadrangle, 1987.</ref>
[[File:Berkley-Dighton Bridge 2015.jpg|thumb|left|New two-lane bridge, opened August 2015]]
Dighton is the site of the [[Berkley–Dighton Bridge]], originally a one-lane bridge built in the 1890s as a link between Center Street in Dighton and Elm Street in Berkley. It is the only span crossing the Taunton River between the [[Brightman Street Bridge]] between Somerset and Fall River, and the Plain Street Bridge in Taunton, a drive of {{convert|12+1/2|mi|km|0}} (and {{convert|4|mi|0|abbr=on|disp=or}} south of the Plain Street Bridge). In 2010, the old bridge was demolished and a temporary bridge handled traffic as a new bridge was built. In August 2015 a new two-lane bridge opened to traffic.

Dighton's localities are Chestnut Tree Corner, Dighton, North Dighton, Segreganset, South Dighton and Wheeler's Corner.

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations | type=USA | align=left
 | 1850|1641
 | 1860|1733
 | 1870|1817
 | 1880|1791
 | 1890|1880
 | 1900|1802
 | 1910|2235
 | 1920|2574
 | 1930|3147
 | 1940|2983
 | 1950|2950
 | 1960|3769
 | 1970|4667
 | 1980|5352
 | 1990|5631
 | 2000|6175
 | 2010|7086
 | 2020|8101
 | 2023*|8182
 | footnote= {{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2023| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=June 4, 2024 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 6,175 people, 2,201 households, and 1,718 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|275.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 2,280 housing units at an average density of {{convert|101.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 97.80% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.53% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.19% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.49% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.28% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.70% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.07% of the population.

There were 2,201 households, out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,600, and the median income for a family was $64,792. Males had a median income of $41,427 versus $28,250 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $22,600.  About 1.0% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==

===Annual cultural events===
Dighton is home of the Cow Chip Festival. The Dighton Lions Club hosts the event. Every June a traveling carnival comes and sets up behind the Town Hall. Fireworks have been a recent addition to the festival. There are rides and a carnival mid-way along with food, musical performances, a lawn tractor pull, woodsman competition pony rides and the chicken BBQ.
The name was given to it because they set up squares on the field behind the town hall.  They place cows out on the enclosed squares.  People then place bets on the square that they believe will be defecated on first by one of the cows.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120912223104/http://www.tauntongazette.com/archive/x941626946 Cow Chip festival classic for Dighton - Taunton, MA - The Taunton Gazette<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:Sweets Knoll State Park sign, Dighton Massachusetts.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Sweets Knoll State Park]]
Sweets Knoll State Park is a fifty-six acre park located in Dighton.<ref name=SKSP>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x393525254/Idyllic-spot-in-Dighton-is-now-a-state-park|title='Idyllic' spot in Dighton is now a state park|last=Miller|first=Kendra Leigh|date=July 18, 2010|work=The Herald News|publisher=GateHouse Media, Inc.|access-date=December 1, 2012}}</ref> It was purchased in June 2009, and includes two miles of old railroad bed which may be adapted into a walking and biking path, picnic areas, a small boat launch, and fishing.<ref name=SKSP />

Tricentennial Park, a small waterfront park along the Taunton River, was created as an [[Eagle Scout project]] by a young resident in honor of the town's tricentennial in 2012.

==Government==
Dighton is governed by an [[open town meeting]] led by a [[board of selectmen]]. Currently serving on the Board of Selectmen are: Leonard Hull (Chairman), Peter Caron (Clerk), and Nicole Mello. The town has a central police station along Route 138 by the banks of the [[Segreganset River]], separate post offices and fire departments near the center of town and North Dighton, and the Dighton Public Library at the center of town.  Dighton has a conservation area and a small park next to the town hall near the intersection of Center Street and Route 138.
[[File:Dighton Town Hall, Massachusetts.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Dighton Town Hall]]
Dighton is located in the Fifth Bristol state representative district, which includes Somerset and parts of Swansea and Taunton.  The town is represented in the state senate in the First Plymouth and Bristol district, which includes the towns of Berkley, Bridgewater, Carver, Marion, Middleborough, Raynham, Taunton and Wareham. Dighton is patrolled by the Middleboro Barracks (D4) of the Massachusetts State Police.  On the national level, the town is part of Massachusetts Congressional District 4, which is represented by [[Jake Auchincloss]].  The state's junior (Class I) Senator is [[Ed Markey]] and the state's senior (Class II) Senator is [[Elizabeth Warren]].

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="float:center; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Dighton presidential election results<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/year_from:1970/year_to:1970/|title=Election Results}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third parties]]
! Total Votes
! Margin
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2024 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2024]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.80% ''1,894''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.69%''' ''2,793''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.51% ''72''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|4,759
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|18.89%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.28% ''2,139''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.35%''' ''2,473''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.37% ''112''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|4,724
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|7.07%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.15% ''1,602''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.86%''' ''2,149''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.99% ''239''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|3,990
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|13.71%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.58% ''1,743''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.31%''' ''1,843''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.10% ''77''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|3,663
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|2.73%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''48.45%''' ''1,732''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.08% ''1,719''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.47% ''124''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|3,575
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|0.36%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.41%''' ''1,745''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.21% ''1,477''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.38% ''45''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|3,267
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|8.20%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.23%''' ''1,639''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.98% ''1,059''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.80% ''166''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2,864
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|20.25%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.78%''' ''1,444''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|29.17% ''769''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|16.05% ''423''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2,636
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|25.61%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''39.26%''' ''1,109''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.40% ''887''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|29.35% ''829''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2,825
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|7.86%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.24% ''1,175''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.02%''' ''1,403''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.73% ''19''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|2,597
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|8.78%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.96% ''948''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.50%''' ''1,472''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.53% ''13''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|2,433
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|21.54%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.89% ''889''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''47.93%''' ''1,155''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|15.19% ''366''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|2,410
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|11.04%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1976 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.09%''' ''1,200''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.00% ''1,104''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.92% ''45''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2,349
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|4.09%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.35% ''844''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.96%''' ''1,183''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.69% ''14''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|2,041
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|16.61%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1968 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.06%''' ''989''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.74% ''778''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.20% ''97''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1,864
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|11.32%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''71.46%''' ''1,217''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|28.19% ''480''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.35% ''6''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1,703
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.28%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1960 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.64%''' ''877''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|49.31% ''854''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.06% ''1''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1,732
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1.33%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|29.16% ''459''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''70.84%''' ''1,115''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,574
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.68%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1952 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1952]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.22% ''552''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''63.58%''' ''969''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.20% ''3''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,524
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|27.36%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1948 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1948]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.86% ''581''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.44%''' ''705''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.69% ''9''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,295
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|9.58%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1944 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1944]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.74% ''489''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.17%''' ''654''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.09% ''1''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,144
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|14.42%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1940 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1940]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.79% ''449''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''62.04%''' ''737''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.17% ''2''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,188
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|24.24%
|}

==Climate==

In a typical year, Dighton, Massachusetts temperatures fall below {{convert|50|F}} for 164 days per year. Annual precipitation is typically {{convert|47.6|in}} per year (above normal for the US) and snow covers the ground 40 days per year, or 11.0% of the year (moderate in the US). It may be helpful to understand the yearly precipitation by imagining nine straight days of moderate rain per year. The humidity is below 60% for approximately 39.8 days, or 10.9% of the year.<ref name="Climate in Dighton, Massachusetts">{{cite web | title=Climate in Dighton, Massachusetts| url=https://dwellics.com/massachusetts/climate-in-dighton | access-date=May 2, 2023 }}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Bristol County Agricultural High School.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Bristol County Agricultural High School]]
Dighton and its neighboring town [[Rehoboth, Massachusetts|Rehoboth]] comprise one school district, the [[List of school districts in Massachusetts|Dighton-Rehoboth School District]]. It was founded in 1987 to oversee the schools of both towns. The high school, [[Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School]], was founded in 1958 to serve both towns. The school itself is located in North Dighton, mere yards away from the Rehoboth town line.  Its athletics teams are known as the Falcons, and its colors are green and gold. The Dighton Middle and Elementary Schools are located near the corner of Center Street and Somerset Avenue ([[Route 138 (Massachusetts)|Route 138]]) at the center of town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drregional.org/|title= Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District|publisher= Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District|access-date= November 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/node/40650|title= Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District|publisher= Massachusetts School Building Authority  |access-date= November 10, 2012}}</ref>

The town is also the home of [[Bristol County Agricultural High School]]. The school operates a large farm along the banks of the [[Taunton River]] at its Center Street location.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cabotcheese.coop/pages/about_us/farmer_stories/view_farm.php?id=213 |title=Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District |publisher=Bristol County Agricultural High School |access-date=November 10, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515155956/http://www.cabotcheese.coop/pages/about_us/farmer_stories/view_farm.php?id=213 |archive-date=May 15, 2012 }}</ref> The town does not have any affiliation with a regional vocational school system, the closest one being [[Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School]], located in [[Taunton, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bptech.org/bp/|title= Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School|publisher= Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School|access-date= November 10, 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105125605/http://www.bptech.org/bp/|archive-date= November 5, 2012}}</ref>

==Library==
[[File:DightonMA PublicLibrary.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Dighton Public Library]]
Dighton is served by the Dighton Public Library. As of December 2009, the Library Director was Jocelyn Tavares.<ref>[http://www.dightonlibrary.org/staff.html Library staff] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203203842/http://www.dightonlibrary.org/staff.html |date=February 3, 2010 }}, retrieved December 19, 2009</ref>

==Historic places==
{{See also|National Register of Historic Places listings in Bristol County, Massachusetts}}
* [[Coram Shipyard Historic District]]
* [[Dighton Wharves Historic District]]
* [[Dighton Community Church]], 1798

==Notable people==

* [[Thomas Coram]] (1668–1751), Lived in Dighton for ten years and founded the [[Coram Shipyard Historic District|Coram Shipyard]]<ref name="Lane" />{{rp|148}}
* [[Ralph Moody (racing driver)|Ralph Moody]] (1917–2004), American race car driver and engineer. Founder of [[Holman-Moody]] of [[NASCAR]] and [[LeMans]] fame in the 1960s
* [[Samuel Shaw (politician)|Samuel Shaw]] (1768–1827), [[United States Representative]] from Vermont<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000310 |title=SHAW, Samuel, (1768 - 1827)|dictionary= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= November 14, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Jesse Talbot]] (1805–1879), [[Hudson River School]] painter, Associate Member of the [[National Academy of Design]], and friend to [[Walt Whitman]]
* [[Jack Teixeira]] (2001–), North Dighton resident and Air National Guardsman accused of [[2023 Pentagon document leaks|leaking sensitive documents]] pertaining to US intelligence and other countries.
* [[Silas Talbot]] (1751–1813), U.S. Navy Commodore, Representative of New York's 10th district, and captain of the [[USS Constitution]]
* [[Ruth Tripp]] (1897–1971), composer; administered the [[Works Progress Administration|Works Project Administration]]'s Federal Music Project in Rhode Island<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rhode Island Historical Society|url=https://www.rihs.org/mssinv/Mss1102.htm|url-status=live|access-date=June 3, 2021|website=www.rihs.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030412135009/http://www.rihs.org:80/mssinv/Mss1102.htm |archive-date=April 12, 2003 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Cole River]]
* [[Greater Taunton Area]]
* [[Taunton River Watershed]]

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Lane">{{cite book|last1=Lane|first1=Helen|title=History of the town of Dighton, Massachusetts: The South Purchase|series=History of Dighton, Mass |date=1962|publisher=Town of Dighton|location=Dighton, Massachusetts|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89060721800;view=1up;seq=7|access-date=April 15, 2018}}</ref>
}}
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Dighton (Massachusetts)}}
{{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
* [http://www.dighton-ma.gov Town of Dighton official website]
* [http://www.dighton.com/ Dighton.com], community website
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Dighton-Massachusetts.html City-Data.com]
* [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=2923 ePodunk: Profile for Dighton Massachusetts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622112308/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=2923 |date=June 22, 2013 }}

{{Bristol County, Massachusetts}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Dighton, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Bristol County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Greater Taunton Area]]
[[Category:Providence metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]