Raynham, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raynham, Massachusetts
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Raynham Town Hall
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Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Bristol | |
| Settled | 1652 | |
| Incorporated | 1731 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Open town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 20.9 sq mi (54.0 km2) | |
| • Land | 20.5 sq mi (53.1 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.4 sq mi (0.9 km2) | |
| Elevation | 81 ft (25 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 15,142 | |
| • Density | 724.5/sq mi (280.41/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Code |
02767
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| Area code(s) | 508/774 | |
| FIPS code | 25-56060 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618285 | |
| Website | www.town.raynham.ma.us | |
Raynham is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It's about 32 miles (51 km) south of Boston. In 2020, about 15,142 people lived there. Raynham has one main village called Raynham Center.
Contents
History of Raynham
Early Settlement
The area where Raynham is today was first settled in 1639. It was part of a larger town called Taunton. A woman named Elizabeth Pole helped found the town. She was the first woman to found a town in America.
A few years before, in 1636, Roger Williams came to this area. He believed that the church and government should be separate. He also thought that Native Americans should be paid for their land. Williams had to leave Salem because of his beliefs. The local Wampanoags helped him during a winter storm. Their leader, Massasoit, hosted Williams for three months.
The Iron Works
In 1652, a special type of iron ore called bog iron was found. It was along the Two Mile (Forge) River. Soon after, the Taunton Iron Works was built by James and Henry Leonard. This was the first successful iron factory in what was then Plymouth Colony. It worked from 1656 to 1876. While it wasn't the very first iron works in America, its success led to many others being built.
King Philip's War
Raynham played an important part in King Philip's War. The Leonard family, who owned the iron works, were friends with King Philip. He was a leader of the Wampanoag people. It is said that King Philip agreed not to destroy Raynham. In return, the Leonards repaired his troops' weapons at their iron forge.
Becoming a Town
The eastern part of Taunton became its own town on April 2, 1731. It was named Raynham after a village in England. In the past, many ship hulls were built along the Taunton River in Raynham. These ships would sail down the river to be finished. The town also had small factories. But mostly, Raynham was known for its farms and countryside.
Getting Around Raynham
Raynham is a place where major roads meet. Interstate 495 and Massachusetts Route 24 cross near the town's border. Other important roads like U.S. Route 44, Massachusetts Route 104, and Route 138 also go through Raynham.
The town has bus service from the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA). For train travel, the closest stop is in Bridgewater. There are plans to extend the train line to Raynham in the future. This would include a new station called Raynham Place.
The closest small airport is in Taunton. For bigger flights, people use Logan International Airport in Boston or T. F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island.
Population Facts
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 1,541 | — |
| 1860 | 1,746 | +13.3% |
| 1870 | 1,713 | −1.9% |
| 1880 | 1,681 | −1.9% |
| 1890 | 1,340 | −20.3% |
| 1900 | 1,540 | +14.9% |
| 1910 | 1,725 | +12.0% |
| 1920 | 1,695 | −1.7% |
| 1930 | 2,136 | +26.0% |
| 1940 | 2,141 | +0.2% |
| 1950 | 2,426 | +13.3% |
| 1960 | 4,150 | +71.1% |
| 1970 | 6,705 | +61.6% |
| 1980 | 9,085 | +35.5% |
| 1990 | 9,867 | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 11,739 | +19.0% |
| 2010 | 13,383 | +14.0% |
| 2020 | 15,142 | +13.1% |
| 2023 | 15,649 | +3.3% |
Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. |
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In 2020, Raynham had a population of 15,142 people. The town has grown quite a bit over the years. For example, in 1950, only 2,426 people lived there. Most households in Raynham are families. About 25.7% of the people living in Raynham are under 18 years old.
Schools in Raynham
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Raynham is part of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District. There are three schools in Raynham itself. L.B. Merrill Elementary School teaches Pre-Kindergarten through first grade. LaLiberte Elementary School is for second through fourth grades. Raynham Middle School has students from fifth through eighth grades.
High school students (ninth through twelfth grades) go to Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School. This school is located in the nearby town of Bridgewater. The high school sports teams are called the Trojans. Their main colors are red and white. Students can also choose to attend other schools. These include Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School or Bristol County Agricultural High School. There are also private schools in nearby towns.
Fun Things to Do
Raynham Park is a well-known place in town. It used to host greyhound racing. However, greyhound racing ended in Massachusetts in 2010. Now, the building is still used for simulcast racing. This means people can watch and bet on races happening at other locations.
In 2011, the Wampanoag Indian tribe showed interest in building a casino at the Raynham dog track. However, discussions about this plan did not continue.
Places of Worship
Raynham has several different churches and religious groups. Some of the larger ones include St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church and Steeple Point Church. Steeple Point Church is also home to the Raynham Food Basket. Other churches are Calvary Chapel, Lutheran Church of the Way, First Congregational Stone Church, and Father's House Family Protestant Church.
Raynham is also home to Wat Nawamintararachutis. This is a very large Thai Buddhist temple. It opened in 2014 and is the biggest Thai Buddhist temple outside of Thailand.
Famous People from Raynham
Raynham has been home to some notable people:
- Frederick C. Anderson received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military. He earned it for capturing a battle flag during the Civil War in 1864.
- Toby Gilmore was a former slave. In 1776, he volunteered to serve in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He served under General George Washington. It is believed he crossed the Delaware River with Washington. He also spent a winter at Valley Forge.
- Jared C. Monti also received the Medal of Honor. He earned it for his brave actions in Afghanistan in 2006. He tried to rescue a wounded soldier while under enemy fire. He was killed during his third attempt to save the soldier. His story is remembered in a book and a country song.
- Gil Santos was a famous radio announcer. He was the longtime play-by-play voice for the New England Patriots football team.
See also
In Spanish: Raynham (Massachusetts) para niños
