Whilst people have inhabited the site for centuries, most of the village dates from the Victorian-Edwardian periods or is more recent.

Historically a part of the Blackburn Hundred the first record of Baxenden appears in 1194 as the site of a vaccary subject to Kirkstall Abbey.

Local families of historic significance are the Cunliffes of Hollins, Holdens, Hargreaves & Kenyons.

The village is part of the constituency of Hyndburn and is represented in Parliament by the Labour MP Sarah Smith.

On the night of 6 September 1974, the so-called Black Panther, Donald Neilson, shot the Baxenden sub-postmaster, Derek Astin, at his home, injuring him so that he died soon after arriving at hospital.

It was here, at the age of eleven, where his arm was lacerated so badly by a spinning machine it had to be amputated; for which he received no compensation.

[4] This line was once notorious as one of the most difficult in the country due to its 'alpine' nature involving a climb from the junction at Stubbins railway station for 5 miles at an average of 1 in 78 to a summit in Baxenden at 771 feet above sea level followed by a 2 and a quarter mile drop down Baxenden Bank, at times as steep as 1 in 38/40.

Nowadays 'the lines' as they are known is a well used footpath which has been recently incorporated into a network of paths that lead throughout the borough.

BAGS holds an Annual Flower Show at Hollins Technology College (next door) on the first Saturday of September, which is open to the public as well as members of the Society.

The show consist of Flower, Vegetables, Confectionery, Floral Art, handicrafts and children's classes, with many sections open to none members and is a great community event for all the family.

Website[5] Baxenden has the usual amenities of a village of its size such as a dentist, takeaway, newsagents, butchers, bakers, pharmacy, hairdressers, numerous pubs – Dog & Partridge, Alma, Victoria, Village Club, etc.