Branford dates to 1644, and 19% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 97% of U.S. towns · #13 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
31 places in town are on the National Register, among them six historic districts with 1,308 buildings between them. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1892 on, and the census since 1820.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1807.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Branford’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Branford is more historic than 97% of U.S. towns, #13 of 155 in Connecticut. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Branford’s overall grade.
Connecticut towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Connecticut town has 73.3 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Branford’s 473 sits above most of its state (93% of Connecticut towns have fewer) while its 1,336 historic buildings outnumber those of 99% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1644.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. The pre-1940 share (±2.6 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Branford’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
An area called Totoket, which became Branford, was part of the land bought from the Mattabesech Indians in 1638 by the first English settlers of New Haven. Previously, the Dutch in the New Netherland settlements set up a trading post at the mouth of the Branford River in the 17th century, the source of the name "Dutch Wharf", also known as "Dutch House Wharf" and the Dutch House Quarter. The area was also described by Ezra Stiles as containing a "Dutch Fort", as hinted at by archaeological excavations completed in the 1990s.
Passages that mention Branford, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Descendants of Isaac Bradley of Branford and East Haven, Connecticut, 1650-18981917 · page 98Read the page →
Read the text
ant." For many years he owned the "Saltonstall Farm," and resided in the Saltonstall mansion on the farm, near the East Haven line, in the town of Branford. Mr. Haven speaks of him as "a public spirited man and highly esteemed. All his interests were identified with those of East Haven."
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
Branford, decade by decade
3 decades in the archive, from the 1670s to the 1900s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1644, according to Wikidata. Branford’s post office opened in 1807, and the census of 1820 counted 1,180 people here.
How does Branford rank for history?
Branford is more historic than 97% of U.S. towns, #13 of 155 in Connecticut. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Branford?
31 listings: 24 buildings, among them the Stick Style House at Stony Creek (listed 1972, the first), 6 historic districts with 1,308 contributing buildings, and 1 site. 1,336 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Branford?
19% of Branford’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.6 points), against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town; the median home was built in 1972.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (3), the Library of Congress (2), Wikidata (13), the National Register of Historic Places (31), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1670
1905
