Taunton, MA

Taunton is a city located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,724. The city is located in southeastern Massachusetts and is bordered by Norton to the north, Somerset to the east, Raynham to the south and Berkley to the west. Taunton is home to Bridgewater State University and Taunton High School.

The history of real estate in Taunton can be traced back to 1634 when English settlers first settled in what would become known as Taunton Village. The area was originally part of Swansea Plantation and was granted to Captain John Mason by King Charles I as part of his grant for establishing a military garrison at Swansea Bay during King Philip's War (1675-1676). In 1692, William Bradford purchased land on which Bridgewater State University now stands; this land would eventually encompass over . In 1853, Edward Everett built his home on South Main Street; this house still stands today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1871, Jethro Wood founded what would become known as The Wood Company; this company developed many residential properties throughout Taunton including The Towers (now known as The Residences at Westlake), which are still standing today and are considered some of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in New England. In 1886, George Wigglesworth opened Wigglesworth & Company; this company became one of the largest developers in town and developed many properties including The Breakers (now known as Berkshire Place), which remains one of Taunton's most prestigious addresses today.

During World War II, much development took place in order to accommodate an influx of military personnel; among these developments were several large housing projects such as Arlington Park (now known as Arlington Woods) and Highland Park (now known as Highland Terrace). Following World War II, suburbanization began to take hold with new developments such as Bridgwater Hills being constructed outside town limits near Raynham while newer developments such as Easton Hill were built within town limits near Berkley. Today, Taunton remains a highly desirable location for both residential and commercial development with numerous high-rise buildings currently under construction or planned for downtown Taunton including One Exchange Plaza (formerly called One Beacon Center) and Two Exchange Plaza (formerly called Two Beacon Center).