The area was rich in natural resources with excellent farmland along the rivers and abundant supplies of timber and minerals.

The town flourished during the 1800s with several industries relying on the key resources of waterpower, iron ore and marble.

The historic Crown Point military road came through Brandon to connect Lake Champlain to the Atlantic coast.

In the ensuing decades, government and individuals developed commercial streets at the core which radiated out from the greens lined with residences leading to farms, mines and quarries in the town.

[3] Douglas returned in 1860 to inform a crowd that Brandon was a good place to be born and leave.

As the early industries began to decline, dairying, stock breeding and tourism became increasingly important and ensured the economic survival of Brandon in the 20th century.

The establishment of the Brandon Training School in 1915 was a significant event, providing many employment opportunities for area residents.

The campus, now called Park Village, is used for a variety of purposes including residential, industrial, and institutional uses.

The time that Brandon High School closed was during a wave of consolidation that swept rural areas during the second half of the 20th century.

[15] Beginning in the spring of 2017, a project named "Segment 6" was initiated, promising "improved streetscape, new traffic pattern, buried wires, better parking, beautiful parks, modern and safe downtown sidewalks, benches, decorative streetlights, and a 21st century underbelly.