HISTORY:
Incorporated in 1725, the Town of Easton is located 30 minutes from Boston, 45 minutes from Cape Cod, and 45 minutes from Providence. The community is approximately 29 square miles in area and has an estimated 2008 population of 23,289. Easton is governed by an Open Town Meeting and the executive branch is made up of an elected five-member Board of Selectmen, serving three-year terms. The Board hires a full-time Town Administrator to supervise the daily operations of the government.
The Town's history is uniquely connected with the establishment of the Ames Shovel company in 1803 and the Ames family through many generations. The Ames family not only shaped the Town's economy, but also its geography and architecture. In the late 19th century, the family created a remarkable legacy by donating several landmark buildings to the town. This was noteworthy not only for its benevolence, but for its architectural significance; the famed architect H.H. Richardson designed Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, the Ames Free Library and the Old Colony Railroad Station. The community continues to preserve these buildings today as part of the proud heritage of Easton.

DEMOGRAPHICS:
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,299 people, 7,489 households, and 5,571 families residing in the town. The population density was 784.1 people per square mile (302.7/km²). There were 7,631 housing units at an average density of 268.3/sq mi (103.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.94% White, 1.59% African American, 0.04% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.13% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.58% of the population.  There were 7,489 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.21. In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,144, and the median income for a family was $82,190. Males had a median income of $51,429 versus $35,912 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,732. About 0.7% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

GOVERNMENT:
Easton is governed by open town meeting, led by a board of selectmen. The Town Hall is located in North Easton, not too far from the town center. There is one police station, three fire stations (near Five Corners, Easton Green and North Easton), three post offices (near Easton Green, near Five Corners, and in North Easton) and two libraries (the main branch, Ames Free Library, at the center of North Easton, and the Five Corners Branch).  Easton is a part of three separate state representative districts: 8th Plymouth (which includes all of Raynham and Bridgewater), 10th Plymouth (which includes West Bridgewater and parts of Brockton), and 11th Plymouth (which includes parts of Brockton). It is a part of two state senatorial districts: 2nd Plymouth and Bristol (including all or parts of Brockton, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson and Whitman) and Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth (including parts of Avon, Braintree, Canton, East Bridgewater, Milton, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, and West Bridgewater). The Massachusetts State Police Troop D (Southeast Massachusetts), Barracks 3 (Middleborough) patrol the Easton area. On the national level, the town is part of Massachusetts's 9th congressional district, which is currently represented by Stephen Lynch. The state's senior (Class I) Senator, up for re-election in 2012, is Edward M. Kennedy, and the state's junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, is John F. Kerry.


EDUCATION:
Easton has a long history of supporting its excellent school system. The renovation and expansion of the Oliver Ames High School and the Easton Middle School is scheduled to be completed in 2007 and 2008, respectively. These modernized buildings and updated classroom facilities will allow the community to continue to provide Easton 's children with a superior education for years to come. The Town is also home to Southeastern Regional Vocational Tech, offering secondary school students an alternative to a traditional high school curriculum. Stonehill College, a 4-year Catholic college, is continually ranked as top in the “Best Comprehensive Category (North).” The 375-acre campus has ponds and wooded trails and will soon have a new Science Center. The College is an integral part of the Town, supporting the community with student teachers and with educational and athletic facilities.

TRANSPORTATION:
There are no divided highways passing through town. The closest highways are Route 24, which can be accessed just one-half mile east in Brockton at Route 123 (Exit 17 A-B) or three-quarter miles east at Route 106 (Exit 16 A-B), and Interstate 495, which can be accessed from Route 123 in Norton or Bay Street in Taunton. Route 123 passes from northeast to southwest through town, and Route 138 passes north to south. Route 106 also passes from east to west, being coextensive with Route 123 for approximately a mile beginning at Five Corners and going westward.
Easton has a single rail line which is currently abandoned. However, plans are in the works to extend the Stoughton line of the MBTA's commuter rail service south towards Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford using that rail line.