Raynham, Massachusetts

Raynham, Massachusetts
Town

Raynham Town Hall

Seal

Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 41°56′55″N 71°04′25″W / 41.94861°N 71.07361°W / 41.94861; -71.07361Coordinates: 41°56′55″N 71°04′25″W / 41.94861°N 71.07361°W / 41.94861; -71.07361
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 (2010)
  Total 13,383
  Density 640/sq mi (250/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02767
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, located approximately 32 miles (51 km) south of Boston and 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Providence, Rhode Island. The population was 13,383 at the 2010 census.[1] It has one village, Raynham Center.

History

The area that is now Raynham was settled in 1639 as a part of Taunton, and was founded by Elizabeth Pole, the first woman to found a town in America. In 1652, bog iron was found along the 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.[2] It was not the "First Iron Works in America", as proclaimed on the Town's official seal, having been predated by the Saugus and 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 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 troop's 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 English village of 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 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.[3]

Transportation

The intersection of Interstate 495 and Massachusetts Route 24, a four-lane divided highway, is located at the town's border with Bridgewater. Additionally, U.S. Route 44, Massachusetts Route 104 and Route 138 pass through the town. Route 24 has one exit which gives access to the town, Exit 13 (Route 44), and there is also a Raynham exit on Interstate 495, Exit 8 (Route 138).

Raynham is one of the towns covered by the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) bus service. The Middleborough-Lakeville line of the MBTA's commuter rail's nearest stop is in neighboring Bridgewater. Raynham is the site of a proposed commuter rail station, Raynham Place, on the Stoughton Branch option of the MBTA's South Coast Rail project. The station would be located next to the former Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park. In March 2011, following the release of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Draft Environmental Impact Report, Gov. Deval Patrick's administration and the MBTA announced this alternative as the best option for achieving all the goals of the project.

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 population
YearPop.±%
18501,541    
18601,746+13.3%
18701,713−1.9%
18801,681−1.9%
18901,340−20.3%
19001,540+14.9%
19101,725+12.0%
19201,695−1.7%
19302,136+26.0%
19402,141+0.2%
19502,426+13.3%
19604,150+71.1%
19706,705+61.6%
19809,085+35.5%
19909,867+8.6%
200011,739+19.0%
201013,383+14.0%

Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 11,739 people, 4,143 households, and 3,231 families residing in the town. The population density was 572.7 people per square mile (221.1/km²). There were 4,209 housing units at an average density of 205.3 per square mile (79.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.54% White, 1.04% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 17.9% of all households 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 Eighth Plymouth state representative district, which includes Bridgewater and part of Easton. It is also part of the First Plymouth and Bristol state senate district, which includes Berkley, Bridgewater, Carver, Dighton, Marion, Middleborough, Taunton and Wareham. Raynham is patrolled by Troop D (Southeast District), 4th Barracks (located in Middleborough) of the Massachusetts State Police. On the national level, the town is part of Massachusetts Congressional District 4, which is represented by Joseph P. Kennedy III. 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. Marie A. Smith (term expired April 2014), Joseph R. Pacheco (term expires April 2016) and Richard Schiavo (term expired 2015) are the town elected selectmen. The Town Administrator is Randall Buckner. 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.

Education

Raynham belongs to the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District. There are three schools in Raynham: L.B. Merrill Elementary School, housing Pre-Kindergarten through 1st Grade, LaLiberte Elementary School, housing 2nd through 4th grades, and Raynham Middle School, housing 5th through 8th grades. Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, located in Bridgewater, houses 9th through 12th grades. The high school athletics teams are nicknamed the Trojans, and the primary colors are red and white, with blue trim. The BR School District Chairman is Ronald Pacy and the 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, including Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton, Massachusetts.

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

Raynham Park is located in Raynham and holds the world record for largest annual handle.[15] 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 Indian tribe indicated an interest in establishing a "Racino"-style gaming casino at the Raynham dog track.,[16] but in August 2011 talks broke down.[17] Raynham also has some of the best youth sports programs in the state. With the raynham giants football team winning 3 national championships"1999, 2001 and 2014. Also the youth baseball "RYBSA" and soccer programs are considered to be some of the better programs around.

Raynham Public Library (The Crown Jewel of Raynham), with World War II, Civil War and World War I memorials on lawn

Religion

Raynham is host to several organizations of various religious denominations. Among the largest is St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church, First Baptist Church on Church Street (Which is home to the Raynham Food Basket), Calvary Chapel contemporary evangelical church, Lutheran Church of the Way, First Congregational Church (Stone Church), Father's House Family Church, and Wat Nawamintararachutis.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Raynham town, Massachusetts". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  2. Creating the commonwealth, Stephen Innes, W. W. Norton & Company, 1995
  3. Raynham Reconnaissance Report, November 2005
  4. "TOTAL POPULATION (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  5. "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  6. "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  7. "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  8. "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  9. "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  10. "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  11. "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  12. "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  13. "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  14. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. CMRPC Report to Warren Casino Studey Committee - November2010 Raynham Park 'will never be the same' as live greyhound racing ends
  16. Tribe eyes dog track, Cape Cod Times, June 14, 2011.
  17. Wampanoag casino talks collapse
  18. http://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
  19. I Drive Your Truck
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