Hitchin grew around a market place and the adjoining parish church of St Mary on the western banks of the River Hiz.

Hitchin is first noted as the central place of the Hicce people, a tribe holding 300 hides of land as mentioned in a 7th-century document,[2] the Tribal Hidage.

It has been suggested that Hitchin was the location of 'Clofesho', the place chosen in 673 by Theodore of Tarsus the Archbishop of Canterbury during the Synod of Hertford, the first meeting of representatives of the fledgling Christian churches of Anglo-Saxon England, to hold annual synods of the churches as Theodore attempted to consolidate and centralise Christianity in England.

[9] Evidence has been found to suggest that the town was once provided with an earthen bank and ditch fortification,[10] probably in the early tenth century[11] but this did not last.

The Hicca Way is an eight-mile (thirteen-kilometre) walking route along the River Hiz Valley, believed to have been used for trade between the Danes and English in the Anglo-Saxon age.

[3] It is also likely that Hitch Wood, which lies some six miles (ten kilometres) south of the town also derives its name from the Hicce tribe, who gave their name to Hitchin.

In 1697, Hitchin (and the nearby village of Offley) were subject to what is thought to have been the most severe hailstorm in recorded British history.

[15] In the High Medieval Period the town was surrounded by open arable fields, divided into shotts and narrow strips, that survived into the early 19th century.

Hitchin established itself as a major centre for grain trading after the Corn Exchange was built in the market place in 1853.

By the close of the 20th century, Hitchin had developed a strong commuter interest being midway between London and Cambridge.

The incumbent Labour Party MP for the former Mid Bedfordshire comstituency Alistair Strathern was elected in 2024.

The parish of Hitchin was administered by its vestry, in the same way as most rural areas; no borough corporation was established for the town, despite some limited moves in that direction in the thirteenth century.

New members were elected in March 1858, but none was prepared to take the declaration of office unless Ransom accepted an offer of settlement which had been put to him.

[25] The Times was scathing of the Hitchin Local Board's inability to negotiate a solution, saying "...they simply resigned, like rustics of unfertile brains...".

These provide direct connections to Cambridge, Letchworth Garden City, Peterborough and London Kings Cross; as well as St Pancras International, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges and Brighton.

Hitchin is well served by local buses including Arriva, Centrebus, Grant Palmer, Stagecoach and Uno.

[35] EDA is a drama school where students train and study for a BA (hons) degree in Musical Theatre in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire.

North Hertfordshire Museum has an extensive collection that tells the story of the town and wider area from prehistoric times.

Hitchin Festival includes picnics, concerts, theatre, ghost walks, art exhibitions, comedy club, talks, summer fetes and fireworks.

[39] An independent music venue, Club 85, hosts an "eclectic mix of contemporary bands and DJs" in the area.

They host several full-scale musicals each year with professional producers, directors, choreographers and West End musicians.

The town centre has a wealth of independent retailers in food and drink and fashion and the historic core is a place to find niche boutiques.

Since 1995, Hitchin has benefited from award-winning town centre management and in 2009 established one of Hertfordshire's first Business Improvement Districts.

The club's highlights have included playing at Twickenham in the final of the national Junior RFU Cup in 1993 and the establishment of the country's first Academy.

[42] The side currently compete in the Southern League Premier Division Central, the seventh tier of English football.

The club play at 4,554-capacity ground Top Field, in the north of the town, and came close to achieving promotion in the late 2010s, but have recently come into a more troubled spell.

Cup against higher ranked sides Hereford United in 1994 and Bristol Rovers in 1995 during which period they developed a reputation for "giant-killing".

They enjoy a large fan base and many local people of all abilities take part in the social activities.

Ickleford is a village situated on the northern outskirts of Hitchin, and to the south are St Ippolyts, Charlton and Gosmore.

[55] In September 2023, scenes from series 2 of the ITV drama Tell Me Everything were filmed in Hitchin; locations included Windmill Hill and outside St Mary's Church.