Princeton dates to 1743, and 29% of its homes were built before 1940
Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns · #30 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
7 places in town are on the National Register, among them five historic districts with 185 buildings between them. Below: 4 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1790.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Princeton is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #30 of 283 in Massachusetts. 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 Princeton’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 Princeton’s 536 sits above most of its state (93% of Massachusetts towns have fewer) while its 189 historic buildings outnumber those of 93% 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 (±9.4 points). Two sources give 1743.
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 Princeton’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
During King Philip's War in 1676, Native Americans brought their captive Mary Rowlandson to Princeton to release her to the colonists at Redemption Rock. The town of Princeton was incorporated in 1759, out of land that was previously part of Rutland. It was named after the Rev. Thomas Prince. In 1810, it annexed a piece of Hubbardston, and in 1870, it annexed a piece of Westminster.
Princeton has five entries on the National Register of Historic Places:
East Princeton Village Historic District: Roughly Main St., Leominster Rd. (added April 18, 2004)
Fernside-Vacation House for Working Girls: 162 Mountain Rd. (added July 27, 2002)
Princeton Center Historic District: Jct. of Hubbardston and Mountain Rds. (added March 26, 1999)
Passages that mention Princeton, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of the town of Princeton, in the county of Worcester and commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1759-19151915Read the page →
Read the text
368 History of Princeton was extended and liberty granted to build it in sections, the first section to extend from Worcester to Princeton, the second from Princeton to Gardner and the third from Princeton to Barre. The road was completed to Gardner in 1 87 1, but the section from Princeton to Barre was not built.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of the town of Princeton, in the county of Worcester and commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1759-19151915 · page 243Read the page →
Read the text
The Selectmen of Princeton endorsing this petition stated, "they have for a Considerable time been Resident in this place, and for ought we know, have Conducted themselves agreeable to what is set forth in the within Petition, and have been Recommended by the persons with whom they Reside to be industrious persons and no strollers, and have Conducted themselves prudently in General." The Council ordered " that they be permitted to reside in the Town of Princeton and to follow 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
Princeton, 1743 to 2020
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 1743, according to Wikidata. Princeton’s post office opened in 1812, and the first U.S. census counted 1,016 people here in 1790.
How does Princeton rank for history?
Princeton is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #30 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 Princeton?
7 listings: 2 buildings, among them the Elbridge Gerry House (listed 1973, the first), and 5 historic districts with 185 contributing buildings. 189 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Princeton?
29% of Princeton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±9.4 points), against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town; the median home was built in 1975.
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 (16), the Library of Congress (2), 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 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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