Our History

Before being settled by re-located residents of Braintree, Massachusetts, New Braintree was occupied by various Native American groups for at least 9,000 years. 

The town of New Braintree is located in a part of central Massachusetts which was once the home of the Nipmuck people.  The Nipmuck people are descendants of the indigenous Algonquin peoples of Nippenet, "the freshwater pond place", which corresponds to an area encompassing central Massachusetts and immediately adjacent portions of Connecticut and Rhode Island.

In 1669, the town of Braintree, located southeast of Boston, voted that each household would be granted an equal interest in the 6000 acres purchased to the west and shall be known as “Braintree Farms.” In ensuing years additional tracts of land which were formerly part of Brookfield and Hardwick were acquired and in 1751 the town was incorporated as New Braintree. 

The town became known for its dairy farms and bountiful harvest. By the late 18th century, New Braintree was shipping its annual production of cheese, other dairy products and beef to Boston and had attained a high degree of prosperity. Over 1,000 milking cows resided in New Braintree by the 19th century and the town produced over 200,000 pounds of cheese annually. Other thriving industries in the town included a broom making factory, a blacksmith shop, saw and grist mills, and a shoe and boot factory.  

Today, this idyllic community is home to just under 1,000 people and the town has maintained its rural, 
farming character, with one working dairy farm, a commercial orchard and several prosperous produce and beef cattle farms. We are proud of our agricultural roots and feel privileged to live in a town which seeks to maintain our heritage.