Like many other towns in Massachusetts, Southborough has a rich Puritan history — and has held onto its small-town feel and rural roads and housing.
Also known as Southboro, many good things have come from this town, including being the leading manufacturers of plaster, straw bonnets, boots, and shoes by the end of the 19th century. This farming community also supplied water to Boston in the late 1890s thanks to the construction of the Fayville Dam. Buildings like the St. Mark’s Church, St. Mark’s School, the library, the Community House, and the Fay School are all derived from prominent figures in Southborough’s history.
Today, Southborough is one of the country’s wealthiest towns, with nearly all of its residents employed in white-collar jobs. Even so, it remains a small town, just as it was during its settlement and incorporation. It is still mainly residential with plenty of open space, including sites like the large dam and reservoir with light industrial land use and several small business districts.