Editing Raynham, Massachusetts

{{short description|Town in Massachusetts, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Raynham, Massachusetts
|nickname                 =
|motto                    =
|image_skyline            = RaynhamTownHall-Spring2015.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Raynham Town Hall
|image_seal               = Seal of Raynham, Massachusetts.png
|image_flag               =
|image_map                = Bristol County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Raynham 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        = Settled
|established_date         = 1652
|established_title2       = Incorporated
|established_date2        = 1731
|established_title3       =
|established_date3        =
|government_type          = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title             = <!--[[Town Administrator|Town<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Administrator]]-->
|leader_name              =
|leader_title1            = <!--Board of <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
|leader_name1             =
|area_magnitude           =
|area_total_km2           = 54.0
|area_total_sq_mi         = 20.9
|area_land_km2            = 53.1
|area_land_sq_mi          = 20.5
|area_water_km2           = 0.9
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.4
|population_as_of         = 2020
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total         = 15142
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|elevation_m              = 25
|elevation_ft             = 81
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = −5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = −4
|coordinates              = {{coord|41|56|55|N|71|04|25|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|website                  = [http://www.town.raynham.ma.us/ www.town.raynham.ma.us]
|postal_code_type         = ZIP Code
|postal_code              = 02767
|area_code                = [[Area code 508|508]]/[[Area code 774|774]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-56060
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0618285
|footnotes                =
}}

'''Raynham''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|eɪ|n|ə|m}}) is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Bristol County, Massachusetts|Bristol County]], [[Massachusetts]], United States, located approximately {{convert|32|mi|km}} south of [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] and {{convert|22|mi|km}} northeast of [[Providence, Rhode Island]].  The population was 15,082 at the 2020 census.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2500556060| title=Census - Geography Profile: Raynham town, Massachusetts| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 10, 2021}}</ref> It has one village, [[Raynham Center, Massachusetts|Raynham Center]].

==History==
The area that is now Raynham was settled in 1639 as a part of [[Taunton, Massachusetts|Taunton]], and was founded by [[Elizabeth Pole]], the first woman to found a town in America.

It was to that area three years earlier that [[Roger Williams]], proponent of [[separation of church and state]], of paying Indians for land acquired and abolishing slavery, had escaped, traveling 55 miles during a January blizzard.  He was fleeing a conviction for sedition and heresy of the General Court of [[Salem, Massachusetts|Salem]], and it was here that the local [[Wampanoags]] offered him shelter at their winter camp. Their [[Sachem]] [[Massasoit]] hosted Williams for the three months until spring.

In 1652, [[bog iron]] was found along the [[Forge River|Two Mile (Forge) River]]. Soon after, the [[Taunton Iron Works]] was established by residents James and Henry Leonard. It was the first successful iron works established in what was then [[Plymouth Colony]], and operated from 1656 to 1876.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=9XUKUkulSkIC&dq=ancient%20iron%20works%20taunton&pg=PA264 Creating the commonwealth, Stephen Innes, W. W. Norton & Company, 1995]</ref> It was not the "First Iron Works in America", as proclaimed on the Town's official seal, having been predated by the [[Saugus Iron Works|Saugus]] and [[John Winthrop, Jr. Iron Furnace Site|Braintree]] iron works. The success of the [[Taunton Iron Works]], however, led to the establishment of other iron works throughout the colonies.

Raynham played a key part in [[King Philip's War]]. The Leonards had forged a friendship before the war began with [[Metacomet|King Philip]], who lived in the area. It is said that Philip agreed to spare the town from the mass destruction if the Leonards repaired his troops' weapons in their iron forge.

The eastern end of Taunton was separated from that town and incorporated as Raynham on April 2, 1731, named after the [[England|English]] village of [[East Raynham|Raynham]] in the [[county]] of [[Norfolk]], England.  Many ships' hulls were built along the Taunton River in Raynham, which were sailed down the river towards [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]] and [[Narragansett Bay]] for final fittings.  The town also had other small manufacturing industries, but for the most part it was known for its rural and agrarian base.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/histland/reconReports/raynham.pdf Raynham Reconnaissance Report, November 2005]</ref>

==Transportation==
The intersection of [[Interstate 495 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 495]] and [[Massachusetts Route 24]], a four-lane divided highway, is located at the town's border with [[Bridgewater, Massachusetts|Bridgewater]].  Additionally, [[U.S. Route 44#Massachusetts|U.S. Route 44]], [[Massachusetts Route 104]] and [[Massachusetts Route 138|Route 138]] pass through the town.  Route 24 has one exit which gives access to the town, Exit 20 (Route 44), and there is also a Raynham exit on Interstate 495: Exit 22 (Route 138).

Raynham is served [[Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority]] (GATRA) bus service. The nearest [[MBTA Commuter Rail]] stations are [[Bridgewater station (MBTA)|Bridgewater]] and [[East Taunton station|East Taunton]] on the [[Fall River/New Bedford Line]]. The proposed second phase of the [[South Coast Rail]] project would include [[Raynham Place station]].

The nearest local airport is in Taunton; commercial air service exists at [[Logan International Airport]] in Boston and at [[T. F. Green Airport]] in Providence, Rhode Island.

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations | type=USA | align=left
 | 1850|1541
 | 1860|1746
 | 1870|1713
 | 1880|1681
 | 1890|1340
 | 1900|1540
 | 1910|1725
 | 1920|1695
 | 1930|2136
 | 1940|2141
 | 1950|2426
 | 1960|4150
 | 1970|6705
 | 1980|9085
 | 1990|9867
 | 2000|11739
 | 2010|13383
 | 2020|15142
 | 2023|15649
 | footnote= {{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2023| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=May 19, 2024 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Raynham Massachusetts collage picture.jpg|right|thumb|400px|A collage picture of Raynham]] -->
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 11,739 people, 4,143 households, and 3,231 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|572.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 4,209 housing units at an average density of {{convert|205.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 96.54% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.04% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.06% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.69% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.71% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.94% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 4,143 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. Of all households 17.9% were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $60,449, and the median income for a family was $68,354. Males had a median income of $46,954 versus $31,760 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $24,476.  About 3.2% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
The town is part of the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives%27 8th Plymouth district]], which includes Bridgewater and part of Easton.  It is also part of the [[Massachusetts Senate's 1st Plymouth and Bristol district]], which includes Berkley, Bridgewater, Carver, Dighton, Marion, Middleborough, Taunton and Wareham.  Raynham is patrolled by [[Massachusetts State Police#Troop D]] (Southeast District), 4th Barracks (located in Middleborough).  On the national level, the town is part of [[Massachusetts's 4th congressional district]], which is represented by [[Jake Auchincloss]].  The state's senior (Class I) Senator is [[Elizabeth Warren]], and the state's junior (Class II) Senator is [[Ed Markey]].

Raynham is governed by an [[open town meeting]] and elects a [[board of selectmen]], which directs a full-time [[town administrator]]. Patricia Riley, Joseph Pacheco and Kenneth Collins are the town elected selectmen.  The Town Administrator is Gregory Barnes.  The three members of the board of selectmen are elected at large on a staggered schedule. Basic services are centered around the town hall located at Raynham Center, including the police station and fire department.  There are two post offices, located near Raynham Center and along Route 138 near North Raynham.  The town also operates the Borden Colony Recreation Area, and there is a small State Forest in the town. The presidential results were mostly democratic until 2008, when the town narrowly voted for republican [[John McCain]] over democrat [[Barack Obama]]. It was also republican in 2012 and 2016 and it was democratic in 2020. In the [[2024 United States presidential election]], Republican [[Donald Trump]] received 4,694 votes, while Democrats [[Kamala Harris]] received 4,059 votes.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="float:center; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Raynham 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/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.62%''' ''4,372''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.16% ''4,243''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.22% ''196''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|8,811
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1.46%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.93% ''3,327''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.25%''' ''3,806''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.82% ''441''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|7,574
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|6.32%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.21% ''3,222''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.46%''' ''3,658''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.33% ''93''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|6,973
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|6.25%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.49% ''3,336''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.17%''' ''3,524''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.33% ''164''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|7,024
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|2.68%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.75%''' ''3,223''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.59% ''3,086''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.66% ''42''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|6,351
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2.16%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.53%''' ''3,128''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.17% ''2,304''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.30% ''304''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|5,736
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|14.37%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.91%''' ''2,751''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.40% ''1,623''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|12.69% ''636''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|5,010
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|22.51%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''35.56%''' ''1,839''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.25% ''1,771''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|30.19% ''1,561''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|5,171
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1.32%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.67% ''1,820''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''59.00%''' ''2,707''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.33% ''61''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|4,588
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|19.33%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.61% ''1,418''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''65.99%''' ''2,784''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.40% ''17''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|4,219
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.38%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.59% ''1,319''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.49%''' ''2,192''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|15.92% ''665''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|4,176
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|20.91%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.00% ''1,778''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.95%''' ''1,813''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.05% ''113''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|3,704
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|0.94%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.02% ''1,242''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.46%''' ''1,630''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.52% ''15''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|2,887
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|13.44%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1968 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.68%''' ''1,315''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.59% ''1,285''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.73% ''158''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2,758
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1.09%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.63%''' ''1,575''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.08% ''818''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.29% ''7''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2,400
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.54%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.75% ''900''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.15%''' ''1,155''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.10% ''2''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|2,057
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|12.40%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|24.61% ''405''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''73.39%''' ''1,208''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.00% ''33''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,646
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.78%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1952 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1952]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|30.67% ''423''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''69.18%''' ''954''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.15% ''2''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,379
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.51%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1948 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1948]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.64% ''444''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''59.02%''' ''661''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.34% ''15''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,120
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|19.38%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1944 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1944]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.45% ''318''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''65.01%''' ''600''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.54% ''5''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|923
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|30.55%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1940 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1940]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.50% ''338''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''66.40%''' ''670''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.10% ''1''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,009
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.90%
|}

==Education==
[[File:Raynham Public Library; Raynham, MA; southeast (front) and northeast sides.JPG|thumb|Raynham Public Library, with World War II, Civil War and World War I memorials on lawn]]

Raynham belongs to the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District.  There are three schools in Raynham: L.B. Merrill Elementary School, housing Pre-Kindergarten through first grade, LaLiberte Elementary School, housing second through fourth grades, and Raynham Middle School, housing fifth through eighth grades. [[Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School]], located in Bridgewater, houses ninth through twelfth grades.  The high school athletics teams are nicknamed the Trojans, and the primary colors are red and white, with blue trim.  The BR School Committee consists of eight members.  High school students may also attend Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School, located in Taunton, or Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton.  Students may also select to attend private and parochial schools in the neighboring towns.

In recent years, discussions have taken place regarding the possibility of the withdrawal of Raynham's three pre-kindergarten-eighth grade schools from the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District. The town cites an unfair funding formula, as well as Bridgewater's inability to fully fund the district, as its reasons for the proposal. However, on November 17, 2010, the proposal was unanimously defeated by voters at a special town meeting, thereby maintaining the current regional system.

==Recreation==
[[File:Johnston Memorial Park; Raynham, MA; view from east detail.JPG|thumb|right|Johnston Memorial Park]]

[[Raynham Park]] is located in Raynham and holds the world record for largest annual handle.<ref>[http://www.cmrpc.org/sites/default/files/Documents/CDAP/Warren_Casino_report_FINAL.pdf CMRPC Report to Warren Casino Studey Committee - November2010 ][http://www.enterprisenews.com/x1045395797/Raynham-Park-will-never-be-the-same-without-dog-racing Raynham Park 'will never be the same' as live greyhound racing ends]</ref> All racing at the park was formally ended on January 1, 2010, after the state election banned all [[greyhound racing]]. The building remains to host simulcast racing.  In 2011, the [[Wampanoag people|Wampanoag]] Indian tribe indicated an interest in establishing a "Racino"-style gaming [[casino]] at the Raynham dog track,<ref>[http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110614/NEWS/106140317/0/FRONTPAGE Tribe eyes dog track], Cape Cod Times, June 14, 2011.</ref> but in August 2011 talks broke down.<ref>[http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110803/NEWS/108030327/0/FRONTPAGE Wampanoag casino talks collapse]</ref>

==Religion==
[[File:Wat Nawamintararachutis-2016.jpg|thumb|right|Wat Nawamintararachutis]]

Raynham is host to several religious organizations of various religious denominations. Among the largest is St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church, Steeple Point Church (Home to the Raynham Food Basket), Calvary Chapel contemporary evangelical church, Lutheran Church of the Way, First Congregational Stone Church, and Father's House Family Protestant Church. Raynham is also home to [[Wat Nawamintararachutis]], opened in 2014 as the largest Thai Buddhist temple outside of Thailand. <ref name="BG20140616">{{cite news|last1=Sampson|first1=Zachary T|title=Thai Buddhist temple dazzles in Raynham|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/06/15/largest-thai-buddhist-temple-outside-thailand-opens- raynham/sWgg3ubiAYCAjNZCKei4XN/story.html|access-date=November 1, 2017|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=June 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917110427/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/06/15/largest-thai-buddhist-temple-outside-thailand-opens-raynham/sWgg3ubiAYCAjNZCKei4XN/story.html|archive-date=September 17, 2016|location=Boston, MA}}</ref>

==Notable people==

* [[Frederick C. Anderson]], received the United States military's highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his action of capturing the battle flag of the 27th South Carolina regiment at the battle of Wheldon Railroad (also known as the Battle of Globe Tavern) near Petersburg, Virginia on September 6, 1864.  Anderson was a member of the 18th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment which was eventually transferred into the [[32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry]] which saw action in many of the major battles of the eastern campaign of the Civil War.
* [[Toby Gilmore]], a former slave, volunteered in 1776 to serve in the [[Continental Army]] in place of his master who had been drafted. He served under General George Washington as tent master and is believed to have crossed the Delaware with him and spent the winter at [[Valley Forge]]
* [[Jared C. Monti]], received the United States military's highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Afghanistan attempting to rescue a wounded American soldier while under fire from enemy insurgents. Monti was killed in action in 2006 during this third attempt to rescue SPC Brian J. Bradbury. His actions are memorialized in the book "See You on the High Ground" written by Len Sandler, childhood friend of Monti's father.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/See-You-High-Ground-Jared-ebook/dp/B00QZC33JC/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442751963&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=see+youon+the+high+ground|title = See You on the High Ground: The Jared Monti story|date = December 12, 2014|publisher = Fireship Press LLC}}</ref> Also, the story of his father Paul C. Monti driving in Jared's truck after his death has been memorialized in the 2012 Country Western song "I Drive Your Truck" by Lee Brice. The song won The Academy of Country Music and The Country Music Association awards for Song of the Year.<ref>[[I Drive Your Truck]]</ref>
* [[Gil Santos]], the longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the [[New England Patriots]] of the [[National Football League]]

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.town.raynham.ma.us/ Town of Raynham official website]
* [http://www.bridge-rayn.org/ Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District]

{{Bristol County, Massachusetts}}
{{Greater_Boston}}
{{authority control}}

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