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BHistory
History · Hopkinton

Hopkinton dates to 1715, and 1 of its places is on the National Register

More historic than 62% of U.S. towns · #266 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it

Most of Hopkinton was built recently: 10% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1990. Its Register listing is the Hopkinton Supply Co. Building. Below: 7 old photos and papers, maps from 1886 on, and the census since 1790.

1715founded
1on the National Register
10%homes built before 1940
7old photos & papers
16famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Hopkinton’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Hopkinton began

When was Hopkinton founded?

1715

Hopkinton dates its founding to 1715 (Wikidata). It appears in the first U.S. census, 1790.

First census: 1,317 in 17902020 census: 18,758311 years

How historic is Hopkinton?

B

More historic than 62% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1818.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Hopkinton’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Hopkinton is more historic than 62% of U.S. towns, #266 of 283 in Massachusetts. Its age holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.

B
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Hopkinton’s overall grade.
Founding era1715, from Wikidata: founded before 1776, an older era than 96% of U.S. townsA+Homes built before 19409.8% of homes (±4.4) · typical MA town 21.1% · U.S. 8.4%B−National Register1 listing, 0.5 per 10,000 residents · typical MA town 46.0 · U.S. 2.4C
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 62%
NewerOlder
Massachusetts towns of 2,500+ (283)Ahead of 6%

Massachusetts towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Massachusetts town has 46.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Hopkinton’s 0.5 sits below most of its state (6% of Massachusetts towns have fewer) while its 1 listings outnumber those of 51% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1715.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C to A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±4.4 points).

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 Hopkinton’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

On the map since 18868 editions of the USGS map, 1886 to 1982. Watch Hopkinton change.Shrank, then grewLost half of its people between 1880 and 1920, then grew 8-fold.Mapped building by building5 fire insurance maps, 1888 to 1910, drew every building in Hopkinton.Older than the countryEstablished in 1715, 61 years before the Declaration of Independence.
★ What stands out · On the map

Hopkinton on the map, 1886 to 1982

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Hopkinton. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Hopkinton on the 1886 USGS mapHopkinton on the 1893 USGS mapHopkinton on the 1900 USGS mapHopkinton on the 1919 USGS mapHopkinton on the 1953 USGS mapHopkinton on the 1968 USGS mapHopkinton on the 1977 USGS mapHopkinton on the 1982 USGS map1886Blackstone sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Hopkinton.

People over time

Hopkinton, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,000180018501900195020004,601 in 1880Low: 2,289

Lost half of its people between 1880 and 1920, then grew 8-fold.

19 censuses, 1790–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Hopkinton’s Wikipedia page.

Every building

Hopkinton, building by building, 1888–1910

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Hopkinton fire insurance map, 1888, sheet 11888Sheet 1 of 2
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

The story

How Hopkinton came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Hopkinton.

Read it all →

The Town of Hopkinton was incorporated on December 13, 1715. Hopkinton was named for an early colonist of Connecticut, Edward Hopkins, who left a large sum of money to be invested in land in New England, the proceeds of which were to be used for the benefit of Harvard University. The trustees of Harvard purchased 12,500 acres of land from the Native American residents with money from the fund and incorporated the area, naming it in honor of its benefactor.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Hopkinton in 1890

Passages that mention Hopkinton, cut from the printed page as they were published.

Hopkinton was first settled in 1710 or '12. There weresome peculiar facts in the settlement of the place, which had an effect on the character of the people.
History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts1890 · page 800Read the page →
Read the text

Hopkinton was first settled in 1710 or '12. There weresome peculiar facts in the settlement of the place, which had an effect on the character of the people.

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
They began by bottoming boots and shoes at the village of Woodville, in the western part of the town of Hopkinton. Here they gradually acquired a knowledge of the full details of this business as then prosecuted, and in 1849, commenced as boot and shoe manufacturers in the building then known as th…
History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts1890 · page 804Read the page →
Read the text

They began by bottoming boots and shoes at the village of Woodville, in the western part of the town of Hopkinton. Here they gradually acquired a knowledge of the full details of this business as then prosecuted, and in 1849, commenced as boot and shoe manufacturers in the building then known as the Joseph Walker shop, which they rented from a man who had befriended them in the early part of their

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

Hopkinton, 1715 to 2020

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1715
    FoundingHopkinton is established
  3. 1755Born hereWilliam Chamberlain is born here
  4. 19th century
  5. 1804Born hereWillard Richards is born here
  6. 1818Post officeThe Hopkinton post office opens
  7. 1841Post officeThe Woodville post office opens
  8. 1842Born hereGeorge Wheeler is born here
  9. 1859Post officeThe Hayden Row post office opens
  10. 1880In the archiveView of dam and foundation of gate chamber Basin 6
  11. 1886On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  12. 20th century
  13. 1903Born hereFrank Merrill is born here
  14. 1906BuiltHopkinton Supply Co. Building is built
  15. 1907In the archiveMain Street, Hopkinton, with streetcars - 1906 postcard
  16. 1910In the archiveSoldier's monument Hopkinton Mass, by unknown photographer, c. 1910, from the Digital Com…
  17. 1930In the archiveHopkinton Athletic Association bonfire, by unknown photographer, 1930, from the Digital C…
  18. 1941Post officeThe Hayden Row post office closes
  19. 21st century
  20. 2020CensusPopulation peaks at 18,758
By decade

Hopkinton, decade by decade

4 decades in the archive, from the 1880s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1880s–1930s4 items
View of dam and foundation of gate chamber Basin 61880View of dam and foundation of gate chamber Basin 6Main Street, Hopkinton, with streetcars - 1906 postcard1907–1915Main Street, Hopkinton, with streetcars - 1906 postca…PostcardSoldier's monument Hopkinton Mass, by unknown photographer, c. 1910, from the Digital Commonwealth - 1 commonwealth 542…c. 1910Soldier's monument Hopkinton Mass, by unknown photogr…Hopkinton Athletic Association bonfire, by unknown photographer, 1930, from the Digital Commonwealth (Hopkinton Histori…1930Hopkinton Athletic Association bonfire, by unknown ph…
1940s–1990snothing yet
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.
Add from your album
Date unknown3 to date
A century sermon, delivered in Hopkinton, Mass., on Lord's Day, December 24, 1815Date?A century sermon, delivered in Hopkinton, Mass., on L…BookLeading business men of Milford, Hopkinton, and vicinity: embracing also Ashland, Holliston and HopedaleDate?Leading business men of Milford, Hopkinton, and vicin…BookHopkinton Supply Company Building, 26-28 Main Street (corner of Wolcott Street)Date?Hopkinton Supply Company Building, 26-28 Main Street …
Today15 recent
Team Hoyt statue in2020Team Hoyt statue inCharlesRiver EchoLakeDam2018CharlesRiver EchoLakeDamTown common2017Town commonThe Bay Path historical marker2017The Bay Path historical markerMain Street2017Main StreetMA Route 85 northbound2017MA Route 85 northboundWestboroughMA CedarSwampWinter2013WestboroughMA CedarSwampWinterHopkinton, Massachusetts2011Hopkinton, MassachusettsHopkinton, Massachusetts2011Hopkinton, MassachusettsHopkinton, Massachusetts2011Hopkinton, MassachusettsLake Whitehall2010Lake WhitehallHopkinton Town Common, MA2010Hopkinton Town Common, MAVintage Books, Hayden Row MA2009Vintage Books, Hayden Row MAMA Route 85 southbound2009MA Route 85 southboundEntering2007Entering
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

View of dam and foundation of gate chamber Basin 6
Retake this viewView of dam and foundation of gate chamber Basin 6, 1880

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Hopkinton’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

1 historic place in Hopkinton

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

place listed
1
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
1
each building in a district counts
first listed
1983
Hopkinton Supply Co. Building
Hopkinton Supply Co. Building, built 1906
Buildings

Architectural styles listings

Commercial Style1
Hopkinton Supply Co. BuildingCommercial Style · Built 1906

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

16 famous people were born in Hopkinton

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Frank MerrillUnited States Army general · b. 1903
Willard RichardsAmerican Mormon leader · b. 1804
W
William ChamberlainAmerican politician from Vermont · b. 1755
George WheelerAmerican cartographer · b. 1842
Joseph YoungMormon missionary · b. 1797
John LockeAmerican politician · b. 1764
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds

Hopkinton’s post office has been open since 1818. Another post office, Hayden Row, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Hopkinton
1818–today
Woodville
1841–today
Hayden Row
1859–1941
18101920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Camp Bob WhiteHayden RowWoodville
6cemeteries and burying grounds inside Hopkinton
Bear HillEast HopkintonEvergreenMain StreetMount AuburnValentine

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Start Hopkinton’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Hopkinton’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
3 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo3 archive items have no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewView of dam and foundation of gate cham…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Southborough4 historic placesACordaville1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townUpton2 historic placesA−Westborough8 historic placesAAshland3 historic placesB+Holliston5 historic placesAMilford7 historic placesA

Questions about Hopkinton’s history

What year was Hopkinton founded?

In 1715, according to Wikidata. Hopkinton’s post office opened in 1818, and the first U.S. census counted 1,317 people here in 1790.

How does Hopkinton rank for history?

Hopkinton is more historic than 62% of U.S. towns, #266 of 283 in Massachusetts. 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 Hopkinton?

One place: the Hopkinton Supply Co. Building (listed 1983).

How old are the homes in Hopkinton?

10% of Hopkinton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.4 points), against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town; the median home was built in 1990.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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 (21), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (1), 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, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) 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.