Goshen dates to 1739, and 13% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 90% of U.S. towns · #42 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
2 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 67 buildings between them. Below: 2 old photos and papers from 1852 on and old-book passages.
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1805.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Goshen’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Goshen is more historic than 90% of U.S. towns, #42 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 Goshen’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 Goshen’s 210 sits above most of its state (76% of Connecticut towns have fewer) while its 67 historic buildings outnumber those of 87% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±5.6 points). Two sources give 1739.
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 Goshen’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The town was incorporated in 1739, one year after settlement of the town center began. The community was named after the Land of Goshen, in Ancient Egypt. The Congregational church was founded the following year. During the 18th century, Goshen was a farming, and later, prosperous business community. Gunmakers from the town such as the Medad Hills manufactured guns during the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War.
The first school in Goshen was built in 1753. A seminary for young women was established in 1819. The Goshen Academy was established several years later and became a well-regarded preparatory school during the 19th century.
Passages that mention Goshen, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of the town of Goshen, Connecticut, with genealogies and biographies based upon the records of Deacon Lewis Mills Norton, 18971897 · page 38Read the page →
Read the text
" Upon tlie memorial of the inhabitants ot the town of Goshen, showing to this Assembly that the purchasers of the township of Goshen, their heirs &c., have settled their respective rights therein and fulfilled all the conditions on which the same was granted to them, and praying that they may have a patent of the said township, according to a draft now lying before this Assembly: Resolved by this Assembly, that the memorialists have a patent prayed for, and that his Honour the Governor and the Secretary sign and
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of the town of Goshen, Connecticut, with genealogies and biographies based upon the records of Deacon Lewis Mills Norton, 18971897 · page 35Read the page →
Read the text
" Upon the memorial of Mr. Stephen Heatou, John Beach, &c., inhabitants of the town of Goshen, representing that they were dis appointed and prevented setting their meeting-house on a certain spot by the committee In their report in October last ascertained and described by a stake by them to that purpose set down, and praying that the said house may be ordered to be erected about four rods distant and eastward from said stake, as per their memorial on file, dated October 14th, 1742; Resolved by this Assembly, that the said
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.
Timeline
Goshen, 1739 to 1963
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
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 1739, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Goshen’s post office opened in 1805.
How does Goshen rank for history?
Goshen is more historic than 90% of U.S. towns, #42 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 Goshen?
Two places: the Goshen Historic District (listed 1982) and the West Goshen Historic District (1987).
How old are the homes in Goshen?
13% of Goshen’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.6 points), against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town; the median home was built in 1985.
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 (6), the National Register of Historic Places (2), 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.
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