[1] Freetown is one of the oldest communities in the United States, having been settled by the Pilgrims and their descendants in the latter half of the 17th century.

Freetown is home to the Freetown-Fall River State Forest, and Profile Rock and is located approximately 50 miles (80 km) from Boston.

Freetown was first settled by the English on April 2, 1659, on the banks of the Assonet River, when the areas of Assonet and Fall River were purchased for 20 coats, two rugs, two iron pots, two kettles, one little kettle, eight pairs of shoes, six pairs of stockings, one dozen hoes, one dozen hatchets, and two yards of broadcloth from the Wampanoag Indians in an exchange known as known as Ye Freemen's Purchase.

Its population slowly grew, and it existed as a Proprietary settlement of the Plymouth Colony until it was officially incorporated in July 1683.

The population of Freetown remained around or under 2000 residents from the 1700s until 1950, and has expanded nearly fivefold since that time One of the more well-known industries was N. R. Davis & Sons, a gun manufactory that provided many weapons for the Civil War.

The more prominent are Fall Brook, the Assonet River and Long Pond which the Indians called Lake Apponequet.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) provides commuter rail service to neighboring Lakeville via the Middleborough-Lakeville line, whose terminus is on the border of the two towns.

Currently, South Coast Rail plans exist to extend service to Fall River via Assonet in the future, most likely along the same path CSX operates.

Air transportation is provided locally by smaller aircraft in East Taunton, Berkley, and the regional airport in New Bedford.

He was replaced by former East Providence manager Richard Brown in January 2012, who left on June 30, 2014, with Mr. Healey returning on July 8.

In 1988, Barbara Trainor became the first woman to hold the position of Selectman in Freetown, giving the town a record of 305 years of all-male leadership.

Various other officers, boards, committees, and commissions round out the variety of services provided to residents, including scattered municipal water, trash collection, fire, ambulance, police, education, recreation, voter registration, etc.

Where county governments in some states collect taxes or manage schools, these functions are carried out at the municipal level in Massachusetts.

The current District Attorney for Bristol County is Thomas M. Quinn III (D-Fall River).

Likewise, the town as a whole is represented on the Governor's Council by Joseph Ferreira (D-Somerset), councillor for the 1st District.

Typical of the town's nature, there are separate fire stations, post offices and libraries in Assonet & East Freetown.

Freetown's fire department provides 24-hour ambulance service to the town, and coverage to surrounding communities such as Lakeville.

Sewer is not available in the town, except for a small portion of South Main Street that is serviced by a line running from Fall River for use by the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company's distribution center.

Electricity in Freetown is provided by Eversource, cable television by Comcast, and telephone service by Verizon.

GRAMS has recently been converted into an intermediate school to cover grades 4 and 5 for both Freetown and Lakeville students.

High school students from Freetown initially travelled to several area cities and towns, including Fall River, New Bedford, and Dighton.

In 1955, Freetown, Berkley, Carver, Lakeville, and Rochester formed a planning committee for a regional high school.

Farm land on Howland Road in Lakeville was donated, and the school opened on September 21, 1959, to serve grades 7–12.

Years prior, studentsfrom both Freetown and Lakeville attended Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School for grades 9–12.

Freetown is not a member of the district and now has an agreement with Bristol-Plymouth Technical High School while Lakeville students still attend Old Colony.

There are a number of major, annual events such as the Strawberry Festival, held every Father's Day and sponsored by the Tuesday Club of Assonet, the Chicken Barbecue sponsored by the East Freetown Congregational Christian Church, and several events during the Fourth of July, including a parade and a fireworks display over the Assonet River.

Fall River Herald News has covered the town regularly for the last several years, after reducing its coverage in the late 1990s.

The Freetown Historical Society Museum in Assonet is a trove of artifacts and information relating to the history of the town and surrounding area, and has an extensive genealogical library.

Several buildings on the property show visitors how life in Freetown once was, even a mere sixty years ago, with a one-room schoolhouse, small chapel, blacksmith shop, and the like.

Profile Rock, in the Freetown-Fall River State Forest, is a granite outcropping from Joshua's Mountain featuring the image of what local Wampanoag Indians have held to be the face of Massasoit.