Raynham, MA

Raynham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,821 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Boston metropolitan area.

The town was first settled in 1634 as part of Charlestown and later became an independent municipality in 1712. Raynham is named for Sir John Raynham, who explored and mapped much of New England in the early 18th century. The town's economy has traditionally been based on agriculture and related industries such as milling and textile production. However, since the late 20th century there has been a significant shift to high-tech businesses and services.

Today Raynham is home to several notable institutions including Suffolk University (formerly known as Boston College High School), Saint Joseph's Seminary (a Roman Catholic seminary), and the First Baptist Church of Raynham (the oldest Baptist church in Massachusetts). The town also features numerous parks, including Lake Waban, which offers swimming, boating, fishing, and ice skating; Memorial Park with a golf course; Liberty Park with a baseball diamond; Veterans Memorial Park with a soccer field; Hillside Park with playgrounds; and Pine Meadow Park with tennis courts. There are also numerous small businesses throughout the town that provide goods and services to residents.

The Town of Raynham operates its own police department which employs approximately 30 officers providing general law enforcement services within the municipality as well as providing support for local events such as concerts at Lake Waban or Fourth of July fireworks displays at Liberty Park. The Department also provides support for regional agencies when requested such as assisting with emergency response during severe weather events or participating in joint task forces aimed at combating crime within Norfolk County