Plainfield dates to 1699, and 29% of its homes were built before 1940
Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns · #9 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
11 places in town are on the National Register, among them six historic districts with 519 buildings between them. Below: 11 old photos and papers, maps from 1889 on, and the census since 1820.
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1797.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Plainfield’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Plainfield is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #9 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 Plainfield’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 Plainfield’s 345 sits above most of its state (85% of Connecticut towns have fewer) while its 523 historic buildings outnumber those of 97% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±5.1 points). Two sources give 1699.
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 Plainfield’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Plainfield was incorporated in 1699 as the town of Quinebaug and renamed the following year to its current name. The present name of "Plainfield" is descriptive of the original town site. Plainfield proved to be an industrial heavyweight in the 19th and early 20th centuries due largely to the ability of the Moosup and Quinebaug Rivers to provide power to the different mills throughout town. The job opportunities attracted French Canadian Americans, Irish Americans, British Americans, and people from other countries during the late 19th century. Combined with the mills, Plainfield had incredible commerce for a small town because four railways from Hartford, New York, Boston, and Providence intersected within the town. There was also a highly acclaimed school on Academy Hill, which is how the present Academy Hill Road got its name. Also, the town annually has the V-J Day parade, said to b…
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 1699, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Plainfield’s post office opened in 1797, and the census of 1820 counted 2,097 people here.
How does Plainfield rank for history?
Plainfield is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #9 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 Plainfield?
11 listings: 3 buildings, 6 historic districts with 519 contributing buildings, and 2 structures. 523 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Plainfield?
29% of Plainfield’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.1 points), against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town; the median home was built in 1971.
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 (9), the Library of Congress (2), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (11), 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) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1901–1907
1901–1907
1902–1907
1905
1905
c. 1906
c. 1907
1907–1915
1907–1915
1908