Historic Towns in Massachusetts

      Comments Off on Historic Towns in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is full of historic towns and cities. Many were settled by puritans in the 17th century while others either separated from existing towns at a later date or were mill towns established by factory owners in the 19th century.

Most were incorporated as towns (meaning they received an official charter from the state or colony to become a self-governing town) but some of these towns grew so large they were later reincorporated as cities.

A few towns even became extinct when they were swallowed up by public works projects like the Quabbin reservoir and others were annexed to nearby cities.

The following is a full list of Massachusetts towns and the dates they were settled and incorporated:

Abington

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1668 / Incorporated: 1712

Acton

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1680 / Incorporated: 1735

Acushnet

County: Bristol / Settled: 1659 / Incorporated: 1860

Adams

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1762 / Incorporated: 1778

Agawam

County: Hampden / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated: 1855

Alford

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1740 / Incorporated: 1773

Amesbury

County: Essex / Settled: 1654 / Incorporated: 1668

Amherst

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1703 / Incorporated: 1775

Andover

County: Essex / Settled: 1642 / Incorporated: 1646

Aquinnah

County: Dukes / Settled: 1669 / Incorporated: 1870

Arlington

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated: 1807

Ashburnham

County: Worcester / Settled: 1736 / Incorporated: 1765

Ashby

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1676 / Incorporated: 1767

Ashfield

County: Franklin / Settled: 1743 / Incorporated: 1765

Ashland

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1750 / Incorporated: 1846

Athol

County: Worcester / Settled: 1735 / Incorporated: 1762

Attleboro

County: Bristol / Settled: 1634 / Incorporated (town): 1694 / Reincorporated (city): 1914

Auburn

County: Worcester / Settled: 1714 / Incorporated: 1778

Avon

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1700 / Incorporated: 1888

Ayer

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1668 / Incorporated: 1871

Barnstable

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1637 / Incorporated: 1638

Barre

County: Worcester / Settled: 1720 / Incorporated: 1774

Becket

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1740 / Incorporated: 1765

Bedford

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1640 / Incorporated: 1729

Belchertown

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1731 / Incorporated: 1761

Bellingham

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1713 / Incorporated: 1719

Belmont

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1636 / Incorporated: 1859

Berkley

County: Bristol / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1735

Berlin

County: Worcester / Settled: 1665 / Incorporated: 1812

Bernardston

County: Franklin / Settled: 1738 / Incorporated: 1762

Beverly

County: Essex / Settled: 1626 / Incorporated (town): 1668 / Reincorporated (city): 1894

Billerica

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1637 / Incorporated: 1655

Blackstone

County: Worcester / Settled: 1662 / Incorporated: 1845

Blandford

County: Hampden / Settled: 1735 / Incorporated: 1741

Bolton

County: Worcester / Settled: 1682 / Incorporated: 1738

Boston

County: Suffolk / Settled: 1625 / Incorporated (town): 1630 / Reincorporated (city): 1822

Bourne

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1640 / Incorporated: 1884

Boxborough

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1680 / Incorporated: 1835

Boxford

County: Essex / Settled: 1645 / Incorporated: 1685

Boylston

County: Worcester / Settled: 1705 / Incorporated: 1785

Braintree

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1634 / Incorporated: 1640

Brewster

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1656 / Incorporated: 1803

Bridgewater

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1650 / Incorporated: 1656

Brighton

County: Suffolk / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated: 1806 / Annexed to Boston: 1874

Brimfield

County: Hampden / Settled: 1706 / Incorporated: 1731

Brockton

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1700 / Incorporated (town): 1821 / Incorporated (city): 1881

Brookfield

County: Worcester / Settled: 1664 / Incorporated: 1718

Brookline

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1705

Buckland

County: Franklin / Settled: 1779 / Incorporated: 1779

Burlington

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1641 / Incorporated: 1799

Cambridge

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated (town): 1636 / Reincorporated (city): 1846

Canton

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1650 / Incorporated: 1797

Carlisle

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1650 / Incorporated: 1780

Carver

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1790

Charlemont

County: Franklin / Settled: 1742 / Incorporated: 1765

Charlestown

County: Suffolk / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated (town): 1630 / Reincorporated (city): 1847 / Annexed to Boston: 1873

Charlton

County: Worcester / Settled: 1735 / Incorporated: 1775

Chatham

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1665 / Incorporated: 1712

Chelmsford

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1633 / Incorporated: 1655

Chelsea

County: Suffolk / Settled: 1624 / Incorporated (town): 1739 / Reincorporated (city): 1857

Cheshire

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1766 / Incorporated: 1793

Chester

County: Hampden / Settled: 1760 / Incorporated: 1765

Chesterfield

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1760 / Incorporated: 1762

Chicopee

County: Hampden / Settled: 1652 / Incorporated (town): 1848 / Reincorporated (city): 1890

Chilmark

County: Dukes / Settled: 1671 / Incorporated: 1714

Clarksburg

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1764 / Incorporated: 1798

Clinton

County: Worcester / Settled: 1654 / Incorporated: 1850

Cohasset

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1647 / Incorporated: 1775

Colrain

County: Franklin / Settled: 1735 / Incorporated: 1761

Concord

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated: 1635

Conway

County: Franklin / Settled: 1762 / Incorporated: 1775

Cummington

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1762 / Incorporated: 1779

Dalton

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1755 / Incorporated: 1784

Dana

Settled: 1800 / Ceased to exist in 1938 when Quabbin Reservoir was filled in.

Danvers

County: Essex / Settled: 1632 / Incorporated: 1757

Dartmouth

County: Bristol / Settled: 1650 / Incorporated: 1664

Dedham

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated: 1636

Deerfield

County: Franklin / Settled: 1673 / Incorporated: 1677

Dennis

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1639 / Incorporated: 1793

Dighton

County: Bristol / Settled: 1678 / Incorporated: 1712

Douglas

County: Worcester / Settled: 1721 / Incorporated: 1775

Dorchester

County: Suffolk / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated: 1630 / Annexed to Boston: 1870

Dover

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated: 1836

Dracut

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1664 / Incorporated: 1701

Dudley

County: Worcester / Settled: 1714 / Incorporated: 1732

Dunstable

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1656 / Incorporated: 1673

Duxbury

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1624 / Incorporated: 1637

East Bridgewater

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1649 / Incorporated: 1823

East Brookfield

County: Worcester / Settled: 1664 / Incorporated: 1920

East Longmeadow

County: Hampden / Settled: 1740 / Incorporated: 1894

Eastham

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1644 / Incorporated: 1646

Easthampton

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1664 / Incorporated: 1809

Easton

County: Bristol / Settled: 1694 / Incorporated: 1725

Edgartown

County: Dukes / Settled: 1642 / Incorporated: 1671

Egremont

Settled: Berkshire / Settled: 1730 / Incorporated: 1775

Enfield

Settled: 1815 / Ceased to exist in 1938 when Quabbin Reservoir was filled in.

Erving

County: Franklin / Settled: 1801 / Incorporated: 1838

Essex

County: Essex / Settled: 1634 / Incorporated: 1819

Everett

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated (town): 1870 / Reincorporated (city): 1892

Fairhaven

County: Bristol / Settled: 1670 / Incorporated: 1812

Fall River

County: Bristol / Incorporated: 1803 / Reincorporated: 1854

Falmouth

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1686

Fitchburg

County: Worcester / Settled: 1730 / Incorporated (town): 1764 / Reincorporated (city): 1872

Florida

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1783 / Incorporated: 1805

Foxborough

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1704 / Incorporated: 1778

Framingham

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1650 / Incorporated: 1700

Franklin

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1778

Freetown

County: Bristol / Settled: 1675 / Incorporated: 1683

Gardner

County: Worcester / Settled: 1764 / Incorporated (town): 1785 / Reincorporated (city): 1923

Georgetown

County: Essex / Settled: 1639 / Incorporated: 1838

Gill

County: Franklin / Settled: 1776 / Incorporated: 1793

Gloucester

County: Essex / Settled: 1623 / Incorporated (town): 1642 / Reincorporated (city): 1873

Goshen

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1761 / Incorporated: 1781

Gosnold

County: Dukes / Settled: 1641 / Incorporated: 1864

Grafton

County: Worcester / Settled: 1718 / Incorporated: 1735

Granby

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1727 / Incorporated: 1768

Granville

County: Hampden / Settled: 1736 / Incorporated: 1775

Great Barrington

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1726 / Incorporated: 1761

Greenfield

County: Franklin / Settled: 1686 / Incorporated: 1775

Greenwich

Settled: 1754 / Ceased to exist in 1938 when Quabbin Reservoir was filled in.

Groton

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1655 / Incorporated: 1655

Groveland

County: Essex / Settled: 1639 / Incorporated: 1850

Hadley

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1659 / Incorporated: 1661

Halifax

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1670 / Incorporated: 1734

Hamilton

County: Essex / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1793

Hampden

County: Hampden / Settled: 1741 / Incorporated: 1878

Hancock

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1767 / Incorporated: 1776

Hanover

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1649 / Incorporated: 1727

Hanson

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1632 / Incorporated: 1820

Hardwick

County: Worcester / Settled: 1737 / Incorporated: 1739

Harvard

County: Worcester / Settled: 1704 / Incorporated: 1732

Harwich

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1670 / Incorporated: 1694

Hatfield

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1661 / Incorporated: 1670

Haverhill

County: Essex / Settled: 1640 / Incorporated (town): 1641 / Reincorporated (city): 1869

Hawley

County: Franklin / Settled: 1760 / Incorporated: 1792

Heath

County: Franklin / Settled: 1765 / Incorporated: 1785

Hingham

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated: 1635

Hinsdale

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1763 / Incorporated: 1804

Holbrook

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1710 / Incorporated: 1872

Holden

County: Worcester / Settled: 1723 / Incorporated: 1741

Holland

County: Hampden / Settled: 1725 / Incorporated: 1835

Holliston

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1659 / Incorporated: 1724

Holyoke

County: Hampden / Settled: 1745 / Incorporated (town): 1850 / Incorporated (city): 1873

Hopedale

County: Worcester / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1886

Hopkinton

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1715 / Incorporated: 1715

Hubbardston

County: Worcester / Settled: 1734 / Incorporated: 1775

Hudson

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1699 / Incorporated: 1866

Hull

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1624 / Incorporated: 1644

Huntington

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1769 / Incorporated: 1775

Hyde Park

County: Suffolk / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated: 1868 / Annexed to Boston: 1912

Ipswich

County: Essex / Settled: 1633 / Incorporated: 1634

Kingston

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1620 / Incorporated: 1726

Lakeville

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1717 / Incorporated: 1853

Lancaster

County: Worcester / Settled: 1643 / Incorporated: 1653

Lanesborough

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1753 / Incorporated: 1765

Lawrence

County: Essex / Settled: 1655 / Incorporated (town): 1847 / Reincorporated (city): 1853

Lee

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1760 / Incorporated: 1777

Leicester

County: Worcester / Settled: 1713 / Incorporated: 1714

Lenox

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1750 / Incorporated: 1775

Leominster

County: Worcester / Settled: 1653 / Incorporated (town): 1740 / Reincorporated (city): 1915

Leverett

County: Franklin / Settled: 1713 / Incorporated: 1774

Lexington

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1640 / Incorporated: 1713

Leyden

County: Franklin / Settled: 1738 / Incorporated: 1809

Lincoln

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1650 / Incorporated: 1754

Littleton

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1686 / Incorporated: 1715

Longmeadow

County: Hampden / Settled: 1644 / Incorporated: 1783

Lowell

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1653 / Incorporated (town): 1826 / Reincorporated (city): 1836

Ludlow

County: Hampden / Settled: 1751 / Incorporated: 1775

Lunenburg

County: Worcester / Settled: 1721 / Incorporated: 1728

Lynn

County: Essex / Incorporated: 1850

Lynnfield

County: Essex / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1814

Malden

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1640 / Incorporated: 1649 / Reincorporated: 1881

Manchester-by-the-Sea

County: Essex / Settled: 1629 / Incorporated: 1645

Mansfield

County: Bristol / Settled: 1659 / Incorporated: 1775

Marblehead

County: Essex / Settled: 1629 / Incorporated: 1649

Marion

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1679 / Incorporated: 1852

Marlborough

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1657 / Incorporated (town): 1660 / Reincorporated (city): 1890

Marshfield

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1632 / Incorporated: 1640

Mashpee

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1870

Mattapoisett

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1750 / Incorporated: 1857

Maynard

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1871

Medfield

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1649 / Incorporated: 1651

Medford

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated: 1892

Medway

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1657 / Incorporated: 1713

Melrose

County: Middlesex / Incorporated: 1850 / Reincorporated: 1899

Mendon

County: Worcester / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1667

Merrimac

County: Essex / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1876

Methuen

County: Essex / Settled: 1642 / Incorporated: 1725

Middleborough

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1669

Middlefield

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1780 / Incorporated: 1783

Middleton

County: Essex / Settled: 1659 / Incorporated: 1728

Milford

County: Worcester / Settled: 1662 / Incorporated: 1780

Millbury

County: Worcester / Settled: 1716 / Incorporated: 1813

Millis

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1657 / Incorporated: 1885

Millville

County: Worcester / Settled: 1662 / Incorporated: 1916

Milton

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1636 / Incorporated: 1662

Monroe

County: Franklin / Settled: 1800 / Incorporated: 1822

Monson

County: Hampden / Settled: 1715 / Incorporated: 1775

Montague

County: Franklin / Settled: 1715 / Incorporated: 1775

Monterey

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1739 / Incorporated: 1847

Montgomery

County: Hampden / Settled: 1767 / Incorporated: 1780

Mount Washington

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1692 / Incorporated: 1779

Nahant

County: Essex / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated: 1853

Nantucket

County: Nantucket / Settled: 1641 / Incorporated: 1671

Natick

County: Middlesex / Settled; 1718 / Incorporated: 1781

Needham

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1680 / Incorporated: 1711

New Ashford

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1762 / Incorporated: 1835

New Bedford

County: Bristol / Settled: 1640 / Incorporated: 1787 / Reincorporated: 1847

New Braintree

County: Worcester / Settled: 1709 / Incorporated: 1775

New Marlborough

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1738 / Incorporated: 1775

New Salem

County: Franklin / Settled: 1737 / Incorporated: 1775

Newbury

County: Essex / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated: 1635

Newburyport

County: Essex / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated (town): 1764 / Reincorporated (city): 1851

Newton

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1639 / Incorporated: 1688 / Reincorporated: 1873

Norfolk

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1795 / Incorporated: 1870

North Adams

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1737 / Incorporated (town): 1878 / Reincorporated (city): 1895

North Andover

County: Essex / Settled: 1644 / Incorporated: 1855

North Attleborough

County: Bristol / Settled: 1669 / Incorporated: 1887

North Brookfield

County: Worcester / Settled: 1664 / Incorporated: 1812

North Reading

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1651 / Incorporated: 1853

Northampton

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1654 / Incorporated (town): 1656 / Reincorporated (city): 1883

Northborough

County: Worcester / Settled: 1672 / Incorporated: 1775

Northbridge

County: Worcester / Settled: 1704 / Incorporated: 1775

Northfield

County: Franklin / Settled: 1673 / Incorporated: 1723

Norton

County: Bristol / Settled: 1669 / Incorporated: 1711

Norwell

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1634 / Incorporated: 1849

Norwood

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1678 / Incorporated: 1872

Oak Bluffs

County: Dukes / Settled: 1642 / Incorporated: 1880

Oakham

County: Worcester / Settled: 1749 / Incorporated: 1775

Orange

County: Franklin / Settled: 1746 / Incorporated: 1810

Orleans

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1693 / Incorporated: 1797

Otis

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1735 / Incorporated: 1773

Oxford

County: Worcester / Settled: 1687 / Incorporated: 1713

Palmer

County: Hampden / Settled: 1727 / Incorporated: 1775

Paxton

County: Worcester / Settled: 1749 / Incorporated: 1775

Peabody

County: Essex / Settled: 1626 / Incorporated (town): 1868 / Reincorporated (city): 1916

Pelham

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1738 / Incorporated: 1743

Pembroke

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1650 / Incorporated: 1712

Pepperell

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1720 / Incorporated: 1775

Peru

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1767 / Incorporated: 1771

Petersham

County: Worcester / Settled: 1733 / Incorporated: 1754

Phillipston

County: Worcester / Settled: 1751 / Incorporated: 1786

Pittsfield

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1752 / Incorporated (town): 1761 / Reincorporated (city): 1891

Plainfield

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1770 / Incorporated: 1807

Plainville

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1661 / Incorporated: 1905

Plymouth

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1620 / Incorporated: 1620

Plympton

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1662 / Incorporated: 1707

Prescott

Incorporated: 1822 / Ceased to exist in 1938 when Quabbin Reservoir was filled in

Princeton

County: Worcester / Settled: 1743 / Incorporated: 1771

Provincetown

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1700 / Incorporated: 1727

Quincy

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1625 / Incorporated (town): 1792 / Reincorporated (city): 1888

Randolph

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1710 / Incorporated: 1793

Raynham

County: Bristol / Settled: 1652 / Incorporated: 1731

Reading

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1639 / Incorporated: 1644

Rehoboth

County: Bristol / Settled: 1636 / Incorporated: 1645

Revere

County: Suffolk / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated (town): 1846 / Reincorporated (city): 1914

Richmond

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1760 / Incorporated: 1765

Rochester

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1686

Rockland

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1673 / Incorporated: 1874

Rockport

County: Essex / Settled: 1623 / Incorporated: 1840

Rowe

County: Franklin / Settled: 1762 / Incorporated: 1785

Rowley

County: Essex / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1639

Roxbury

County: Suffolk / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated (town): 1630 / Reincorporated (city): 1846 / Annexed to Boston: 1868

Royalston

County: Worcester / Settled: 1762 / Incorporated: 1765

Russell

County: Hampden / Settled: 1782 / Incorporated: 1792

Rutland

County: Worcester / Settled: 1686 / Incorporated: 1713

Salem

County: Essex / Settled: 1626 / Incorporated (town): 1629 / Reincorporated (city): 1836

Salisbury

County: Essex / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1639

Sandisfield

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1750 / Incorporated: 1762

Sandwich

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated: 1639

Saugus

County: Essex / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated: 1815

Savoy

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1777 / Incorporated: 1797

Scituate

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated: 1636

Seekonk

County: Bristol / Settled: 1636 / Incorporated: 1812

Sharon

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1650 / Incorporated: 1775

Sheffield

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1726 / Incorporated: 1733

Shelburne

County: Franklin / Settled: 1756 / Incorporated: 1775

Sherborn

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1652 / Incorporated: 1674

Shirley

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1720 / Incorporated: 1775

Shrewsbury

County: Worcester / Settled: 1722 / Incorporated: 1727

Shutesbury

County: Franklin / Settled: 1735 / Incorporated: 1761

Somerset

County: Bristol / Settled: 1677 / Incorporated: 1790

Somerville

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated (town): 1842 / Reincorporated (city): 1872

South Hadley

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1659 / Incorporated: 1775

Southampton

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1732 / Incorporated: 1775

Southborough

County: Worcester / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1727

Southbridge

County: Worcester / Settled: 1730 / Incorporated: 1816

Southwick

County: Hampden / Settled: 1770 / Incorporated: 1775

Spencer

County: Worcester / Settled: 1721 / Incorporated: 1775

Springfield

County: Hampden / Settled: 1636 / Incorporated (town): 1636 / Reincorporated (city): 1852

Sterling

County: Worcester / Settled: 1720 / Incorporated: 1781

Stockbridge

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1734 / Incorporated: 1739

Stoneham

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1645 / Incorporated: 1725

Stoughton

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1713 / Incorporated: 1726

Stow

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1681 / Incorporated: 1683

Sturbridge

County: Worcester / Settled: 1729 / Incorporated: 1738

Sudbury

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1639

Sunderland

County: Franklin / Settled: 1673 / Incorporated: 1718

Sutton

County: Worcester / Settled: 1704 / Incorporated: 1714

Swampscott

County: Essex / Settled: 1629 / Incorporated: 1852

Swansea

County: Bristol / Settled: 1667 / Incorporated: 1667

Taunton

County: Bristol / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated (town): 1639 / Reincorporated (city): 1864

Templeton

County: Worcester / Settled: 1751 / Incorporated: 1762

Tewksbury

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1637 / Incorporated: 1734

Tisbury

County: Dukes / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1671

Tolland

County: Hampden / Settled: 1750 / Incorporated: 1810

Topsfield

County: Essex / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1650

Townsend

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1676 / Incorporated: 1732

Truro

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1700 / Incorporated: 1709

Tyngsborough

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1661 / Incorporated: 1809

Tyringham

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1735 / Incorporated: 1762

Upton

County: Worcester / Settled: 1728 / Incorporated: 1735

Uxbridge

County: Worcester / Settled: 1662 / Incorporated: 1727

Wakefield

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1639 / Incorporated: 1812

Wales

County: Hampden / Settled: 1726 / Incorporated: 1775

Walpole

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1659 / Incorporated: 1724

Waltham

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1634 / Incorporated (town): 1738 / Reincorporated (city): 1884

Ware

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1717 / Incorporated: 1775

Wareham

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1678 / Incorporated: 1739

Warren

County: Worcester / Settled: 1664 / Incorporated: 1742

Warwick

County: Franklin / Settled: 1739 / Incorporated: 1763

Washington

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1760 / Incorporated: 1777

Watertown

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated: 1630

Wayland

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1638 / Incorporated: 1780

Webster

County: Worcester / Settled: 1713 / Incorporated: 1832

Wellesley

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1881

Wellfleet

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1724 / Incorporated: 1775

Wendell

County: Franklin / Settled: 1754 / Incorporated: 1781

Wenham

County: Essex / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated: 1643

West Boylston

County: Worcester / Settled: 1642 / Incorporated: 1808

West Bridgewater

County: Plymouth / Settle: 1651 / Incorporated: 1822

West Brookfield

County: Worcester / Settle: 1664 / Incorporated: 1848

West Newbury

County: Essex / Settle: 1635 / Incorporated: 1819

West Roxbury

County: Suffolk / Settled: 1630 / Incorporated: 1851 / Annexed to Boston: 1874

West Springfield

County: Hampden / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated: 1774

West Stockbridge

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1766 / Incorporated: 1775

West Tisbury

County: Dukes / Settled: 1669 / Incorporated: 1892

Westborough

County: Worcester / Settled: 1675 / Incorporated: 1717

Westfield

County: Hampden / Settled: 1660 / Incorporated (town): 1669 / Reincorporated (city): 1920

Westford

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated: 1729

Westhampton

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1762 / Incorporated: 1778

Westminster

County: Worcester / Settled: 1737 / Incorporated: 1770

Weston

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1642 / Incorporated: 1713

Westport

County: Bristol / Settled: 1670 / Incorporated: 1787

Westwood

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1640 / Incorporated: 1897

Weymouth

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1622 / Incorporated: 1635

Whately

County: Franklin / Settled: 1672 / Incorporated: 1771

Whitman

County: Plymouth / Settled: 1670 / Incorporated: 1875

Wilbraham

County: Hampden / Settled: 1730 / Incorporated: 1763

Williamsburg

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1735 / Incorporated: 1771

Williamstown

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1749 / Incorporated: 1765

Wilmington

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1639 / Incorporated: 1730

Winchendon

County: Worcester / Settled: 1753 / Incorporated: 1764

Winchester

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1640 / Incorporated: 1850

Windsor

County: Berkshire / Settled: 1767 / Incorporated: 1771

Winthrop

County: Suffolk / Settled: 1635 / Incorporated: 1852

Woburn

County: Middlesex / Settled: 1640 / Incorporated (town): 1642 / Reincorporated (city): 1889

Worcester

County: Worcester / Settled: 1673 / Incorporated (town): 1684 / Reincorporated (city): 1848

Worthington

County: Hampshire / Settled: 1764 / Incorporated: 1768

Wrentham

County: Norfolk / Settled: 1669 / Incorporated: 1673

Yarmouth

County: Barnstable / Settled: 1639 / Incorporated: 1639

For more info on historic places in the state, check out this article on the oldest towns in Massachusetts, or this article on ghost towns in Massachusetts or this article on Massachusetts historic sites.

Historic Massachusetts Towns List

Sources:
“Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates.” Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, sec.state.ma.us/cis/cisctlist/ctlistalph.htm

About Rebecca Beatrice Brooks

Rebecca Beatrice Brooks is the author and publisher of the History of Massachusetts Blog. Rebecca is a freelance journalist and history lover who got her start in journalism working for small-town newspapers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. in journalism. Visit this site's About page to find out more about Rebecca.