Taunton River
Taunton River
The Taunton River, once called the Taunton Great River, is in southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. It begins where the Town River and Matfield River join in Bridgewater and then flows through Halifax, Middleborough, Raynham, Taunton, Berkley, Dighton, Somerset, and the Assonet part of Freetown, ending in Fall River at Mount Hope Bay.
The river is about 37 miles (roughly 59 kilometers) long from Bridgewater to Fall River. Its watershed covers about 562 square miles (1,460 square kilometers) and includes the Hockomock Swamp, the largest freshwater wetland in the state.
The Taunton River is one of the flattest rivers in New England, dropping only about 20 feet along its length. It is tidal as far north as Taunton and is the longest coastal river in New England without any dams.
The watershed is rich in wildlife. More than 154 bird species have been spotted, including bald eagles. There are 28 species of reptiles and amphibians and 29 species of fish in the area, including native brook trout and Atlantic sturgeon in the lower river. Surveys have identified more than 70 fish species along the river. The Mystic Valley amphipod, a species native to eastern New England, lives in various wetlands throughout the watershed. River otters are common, harbor seals have been seen in the watershed and in some smaller tributaries, and seven species of freshwater mussels live here. The area hosts the region’s largest herring run. Other wildlife includes mink, foxes and deer.
Because the Taunton River connects to the Atlantic Ocean, marine animals sometimes appear in the river. A harp seal was found in the Nemasket in 2005, a beluga whale was sighted in the lower Taunton in 2014, and a basking shark was seen there later that year.
More than 360 plant species have been found in the floodplain wetlands and river corridors, with habitats such as Atlantic white cedar swamps, forested bogs, and coastal plain pond shores.
Historically, industry began with iron works in the 17th century and shipbuilding became very important in the 19th century for the region’s economy. After years of study, the Taunton River was designated a National Wild and Scenic River for its scenic and recreational value on March 30, 2009. The Battleship Cove museum, the world’s largest collection of warships, sits on the Fall River side at the river’s confluence with Mount Hope Bay, under the Braga Bridge.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 16:24 (CET).