| Taunton, city, Bristol county, southeastern Massachusetts, U.S., on the Taunton River, 33 miles
(53 km) south of Boston. Elizabeth Poole, an early proprietor, was said to have
purchased the site from Native Americans in 1638. It was organized as a town in 1639
and later named for Taunton, England. During the King Philip's War (1675-76) it served
as a base of operations. In 1684 its citizens' refusal to pay taxes levied by Governor
Edmund Andros "without their own assent in assembly" was a precursor to the
American Revolutionary slogan: "No taxation without representation." Early industries
included ironworks, brick making, and shipbuilding. Silverware production began with
the establishment of the Reed & Barton Company in 1824. The city's economy is now
diversified, with services and manufacturing (electronic equipment, silverware, aircraft
components, metal products, and office equipment). Massasoit State Park and the
Emma F. Hutt Forest are major recreational areas. Inc. city, 1864. Pop. (1990) 49,832;
(1996 est.) 51,937. |
