Milford dates to 1662, and 23% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 89% of U.S. towns · #159 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
7 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 37 buildings. Below: 6 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1790.
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1814.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Milford’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Milford is more historic than 89% of U.S. towns, #159 of 283 in Massachusetts. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Milford’s overall grade.
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 Milford’s 14.5 sits below most of its state (31% of Massachusetts towns have fewer) while its 44 historic buildings outnumber those of 84% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. The pre-1940 share (±2.9 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1662.
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 Milford’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
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.
Milford was first settled in 1662 as a part of Mendon after Native Americans, including the Sachem, Quashaamit, granted land to the early settlers. King Philip's War destroyed the town in 1676, but settlers returned in 1680. The Mill River flows through Milford and had several conspicuous fords that were familiar to the Native Americans, and used by the early white settlers. These "mill (river) fords" are said to have given Milford its name. Milford was incorporated April 11, 1780, and the first town hall built in 1819; a brick structure later named the Town House School. The current town hall was built in 1854 by architect Thomas Silloway.
Passages that mention Milford, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity1907 · page 215Read the page →
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Thomas Buckingham removed to Milford, Connecticut, in 1639. and was one of the company of which Peter Prudden was the pastor, who first settled the town of Milford. The church was organized at New Haven, August 22, 1639, and Thomas Buckingham was one of the seven charter members. He died while on a visit to Boston for the purpose of securing a pastor for the church.
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Newton genealogy, genealogical, biographical, historical1915 · page 77Read the page →
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I have not the records of the town of Milford, which probably contain fuller mention. Milford was incorporated as a towni in 17S0 — it was formerly a part of Mondon. Perhaps Mendon may contain the births of these children.
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History of Milford, Massachusetts, part 21882 · page 1039Read the page →
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Mend on from 1769 to 1775, or thereabouts; second on the Revolutionary Committee of "Correspondence and Safety," etc., from 1773 downward; a principal promoter of the separation of Milford from Mendon; chairman of the new town's committee to settle all matters of interest between the two townships after Milford's incorporation in 1780, etc. He d. Aug. 29, 1795, in his 77th yr., having survived his 2d wf. over 4 yrs.
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History of Milford, Massachusetts, part 21882 · page 895Read the page →
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in 1857 ; and Sullivan C. Sumner took his place in the firm, which, with slight changes, remained in* continuous activity. Mr. M. was several yrs. president of the Milford Fire Insurance Co. ; also has been vice-president, and on the investing committee of the Milford Savings Bank ever since its incorporation in 1851. He was made president of the Milford National Bank at its institution in 1854, and held that responsible position until his death. Meantime he was distinguished in civil and political life, as moderator of many town-meetings, selectman, rep. to Gen. Court two yrs., twice a State senator, a member of governor's
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
Milford, decade by decade
3 decades in the archive, from the 1860s to the 1880s. 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 1662, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Milford’s post office opened in 1814, and the first U.S. census counted 839 people here in 1790.
How does Milford rank for history?
Milford is more historic than 89% of U.S. towns, #159 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 Milford?
7 listings: 6 buildings, among them the Milford Town Hall (listed 1977, the first), and 1 historic district, the Prospect Heights Historic District, with 37 contributing buildings. 44 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Milford?
23% of Milford’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.9 points), against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts 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 (6), the National Register of Historic Places (7), 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.
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