The New Student's Reference Work/Taunton, Mass.

Taun′ton, Mass., county-seat of Bristol County, on Taunton River, 35 miles south of Boston. The falls of the river furnish water-power for its many factories. Taunton has long been noted for its manufacture of stoves and printing-presses, brick and iron, and its copper-works are the oldest and largest in the United States. Other products are tacks, machinery, firebrick, crucibles, cotton, flannel, silver-plated ware and solid silverware. Taunton River is noted for its herring and shad fishing. There are a public library, Registry Building, Morton Hospital and the state insane asylum. Several ponds, many shade-trees and the green — a public square — help to beautify the place. There also is a fine bronze statue of Robert Treat Paine, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, occupying a conspicuous place, Taunton being Paine's home. Relics are preserved in Historical Hall, a building owned by the Old Colony Historical Society. Taunton has an excellent public-school system and Bristol Academy, located here, was incorporated in 1792. Taunton was settled in 1638 by a company from Taunton, England. It became a city in 1864. The site was known to the Indians as Cohannet. It was King Philip's favorite hunting-ground, and during King Philip's war it was saved from attack by the king's friendship for one of the citizens. Population 34,259.