Taunton, Massachusetts

Taunton, Massachusetts
City
Taunton Green
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  The Silver City, The Christmas City
Motto(s):  Dux Femina Facti (Latin) "A woman led the deed."
Location in Bristol County, Massachusetts
Taunton, Massachusetts Location in the United States
Coordinates: 41°54′00″N 71°05′25″W / 41.90000°N 71.09028°W / 41.90000; -71.09028
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Bristol
Settled	1637
Incorporated (Town)	1639
Incorporated (City)	1864
Named for	Taunton, England
Government
• Type	Strong mayor / Council
• Mayor	Shaunna O'Connell (R)
• Council	Taunton City Council
• Council President	David Pottier (R)
Area [1]
• 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  (2020)
• Total	59,408
• Density	1,271.90/sq mi (491.08/km2)
• Demonym	Tauntonian
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes	02718, 02780, 02783
Area code	508 / 774
FIPS code	25-69170
GNIS feature ID	0613154
Website	www.taunton-ma.gov

Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County. Taunton is situated on the Taunton River which winds its way through the city on its way to Mount Hope Bay, 10 miles (16 km) to the south. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 59,408.^[2] Shaunna O'Connell is the mayor of Taunton.

Founded in 1637 by members of the Plymouth 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 the silver 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 on Taunton Green, giving it the additional nickname of the Christmas City.

The original boundaries of Taunton included the land now occupied by many surrounding towns, including Norton, Easton, Mansfield, Dighton, Raynham, Berkley, and Lakeville. Possession of the latter is still noted by the naming of Taunton Hill in Assonet.