City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates
The following is a list of cities and towns of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, along with the dates when they were settled, when they incorporated as a town (and, if applicable, as a city) and their respective counties.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was settled in 1620 and incorporated in 1629. The term “settled” refers to the arrival of the Europeans. Paleo-Indians in Massachusetts date back to 8000 BC.
In some cases, a town may have been established at an earlier date than its present name would suggest. Additionally, four towns drowned in building the Quabbin Reservoir during the 1930s: Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott.
There are fourteen communities with city structures that refer to themselves as towns: Agawam, Amherst, Barnstable, Braintree, Bridgewater, East Longmeadow, Franklin, North Attleborough, Palmer, Randolph, Southbridge, West Springfield, Weymouth, and Winthrop. Six communities hold city designations, though without wards; Amesbury, Easthampton, Framingham, Greenfield, Methuen, and Watertown.
* Indicates county seat or shiretown
Choose your town's first letter from the choices below: