Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located approximately south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River, north of New Bedford, and west of Plymouth. It is the seat of Bristol County. Taunton is situated on the Taunton River which winds its way through the city on its way to Mount Hope Bay, to the south. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 55,874. The current mayor is Thomas Hoye, Jr.