When the Missouri Pacific Railroad was being constructed 4 miles (6 km) north of the village of Boston (now Old Boston) in the summer of 1876, it was clear to many businessmen in the town that it would suffer a serious decline as a result of its distance from the line.

The negotiations were successful, and in September 1876, lots were laid out and put up for sale on 100 acres (0.40 km2) that the railroad had purchased.

The town grew rapidly, and by 1884, it had 400 residents, two churches, a school, several mills and gins, and a newspaper, the New Boston Herald, edited by W. W. West.

Although an International Paper mill, the Barry Telford state prison and a few smaller factories provided some industrial base for the town, New Boston depends heavily on the two military installations for its continued prosperity.

The townfolk gather at the T&P Trailhead Park for entertainment such as carnival rides, street dances, and live musical and comedy presentations.

On the evening of November 4, 2022, an EF3 tornado hit the western outskirts of the city, causing minor damage.

Texas State Highway 8 leads south 4 miles (6.4 km) to Old Boston, the site of original town settlement in the 1800s, and north 7 miles (11 km) to the Red River and the border with the state of Arkansas, continuing into Arkansas as Arkansas State Highway 41 to De Queen and junction US Routes 70 and 71.

The Red River Army Depot borders the southeastern edge of New Boston.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2), all land.

[4] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

[7] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,612 people, 1,819 households, and 1,152 families residing in the city.

The Barry B. Telford Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is in an unincorporated area near New Boston.