The town center village, which was previously incorporated as a borough, is a census-designated place, with a population of 4,700 at the 2020 census.

[2] The Colchester area was part of the Mohegan territory at the time of European settlement.

On March 31, 1661, the original settlement of Colchester was founded by Jeremy Adams on a 340-acre area of land, then known as "Jeremiah's Farme."

"[6] On October 13, 1698, Michael Taintor II, Samuel Northam and Nathaniel Foote III applied to officially settle Colchester.

[7][8] Jeremiah's Farme was selected as the main point of reference for the town, with its north boundary as the Twenty Mile River.

The southern side is bordered by Lyme, and the west boundary meets the east bounds of Middletown and Haddam.

[9] On May 11, 1699, the town's principal founders asked the general court of Hartford for assistance, alleging that several persons had hindered the advancement of the settlement by claiming ownership of "considerable tracts of land" within the grant.

[8][9] They also asked to be transferred under the jurisdiction of the New London colony and for the town to be recognized as Colchester.

On May 11, 1699, the court approved their request, officially establishing Colchester as a town of New London.

In 1708 Colchester re-joined Hartford county,[5] and a second religious meeting house was built.

[8] On December 31, 1712, at a legal town meeting held in Colchester, Capt Gilbert Wyatt and Mr. Darnell Clark were Chosen, Selectmen.

[12] On December 28, 1713, Samuel Northam, Thomas Day, and Ebenezer Colman were chosen for a school committee ensuing year.

[12] At a town meeting on June 12, 1716, it was voted to finish the schoolhouse where the foundation of the said house was the only partly standing.

[5] On Thursday, January 29, 1784, Congress suggested a tax, and the representatives of Colchester (Capt.

Colchester bed rugs are important for their strong designs and complex embroidery.

[18] On March 6, 1821, John Turner sold the southern green to Bacon Academy Trustees for $100 ($2,800 in 2018).

[14] In 1836, a town description was written in "Connecticut Historical Collections" stating that excellent quality iron ore was found.

In March 1850, The borough petitioned for a special meeting for land donation by Nathaniel Hayward.

[18] Borough records showed the town immediately designated the park as a source of income.

The state of Connecticut was inundated with between 5-10 inches of rain and wind gusts of anywhere from 100–125 miles per hour.

[21] In July 2005, Colchester was named by CNN's Money Magazine, the 57th best place in the U.S. to live in and is celebrated every year with a festival on the last Saturday of September called 57 Fest.

[23] The Salmon River State Forest provides opportunities for fishing, hiking, and hunting.