2 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 72 buildings. Below: 4 old photos and papers, maps from 1892 on, and the census since 1830.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1820.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Roxbury’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Roxbury is more historic than 88% of U.S. towns. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Roxbury’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 Roxbury’s 339 sits above most of its state (84% of Connecticut towns have fewer) while its 74 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 (±5.1 points). Two sources give 1796.
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 Roxbury’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Roxbury, whose Native name was Shepaug, a Mahican word signifying "rocky water", was settled about 1713 as a parish of Woodbury, which meant that the parish rate, a household-based tax, supported the local Roxbury puritan church rather than the Woodbury church. About a decade after the end of the American Revolution, Roxbury incorporated as a town in October 1796. Roxbury is either descriptively named, or the name is a transfer from Roxbury, Massachusetts.
Passages that mention Roxbury, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut, from the first Indian deed in 1659 including the present towns of Washington, Southbury, Bethlem, Roxbury, and a part of Oxford and Middlebury1871 · page 379Read the page →
Read the text
miration and hearty support of Gen. Hinman. From that period, it is believed his politics were what were then known as of the Jackson stamp. He held some offices in the gift of the town. He was one of the principal agents appomted by the parish of Roxbury, to secure its incorporation as a town. In 1798, and in subsequent years, he represented it in the 'state legislature. It was, however, apparent to all who< knew him, that military office, honors and services, were more congenial to his feelingSj and better adapted to his genius, than
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut, from the first Indian deed in 1659 including the present towns of Washington, Southbury, Bethlem, Roxbury, and a part of Oxford and Middlebury1871 · page 298Read the page →
Read the text
Roxbury and Zoar Bridge, in Newtown. In April, 1794, a portion of this church, with others, were organized into a new church, at Zoar Bridge. In January, 1803, the " Society agreed younanimous to have Mr, Fuller ordained as an Elder in said Society."
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut, from the first Indian deed in 1659 ... including the present towns of Washington, Southbury, Bethlem, Roxbury, and a part of Oxford and Middlebury1854 · page 797Read the page →
Read the text
Roxbury incorporated as a town, Oct., 1796. Episcopal Parish, Woodbury, organized, 1740. Episcopal Church ei'ected by seventy persons, 1785.
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
Roxbury, 1791 to 2010
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 1796, according to Wikidata. Roxbury’s post office opened in 1820, and the census of 1830 counted 1,122 people here.
How does Roxbury rank for history?
Roxbury is more historic than 88% of U.S. towns. 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 Roxbury?
Two places: the Roxbury Center (listed 1983) and the Ezekial Beardsley-David Hare House and Studio (2025).
How old are the homes in Roxbury?
17% of Roxbury’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 1981.
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 (17), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (2), 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.
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