One of the earliest documentations of Plainville being settled is from 1674, when a Wampanoag man by the name of Matchinamook petitioned and received a few acres of land at the head of the Ten Mile River, at present day Fuller's Dam.

In its early days, Plainville was nicknamed Slackville after Benjamin Slack, an affluent landowner at the time.

After the establishment of a post office in 1856, Plainville became the town name after the abundance of geographical plains in the area.

Along with bordering North Attleboro, Massachusetts, Plainville shares the Angle Tree Stone, a historic marker dividing the boundaries between the old Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Bay Colony.

In 2019, Plainville opened a new $34 million Municipal Complex, which included new space for the Town Hall, Fire Department, and Police.

Plainville borders the towns of Wrentham, Foxboro, Mansfield, North Attleboro, and Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Plainville built a new Municipal Complex in 2019, financed with revenue provided by a local casino.

[12] The town has a three-member select board, the current members, Maggie Clarke, Jeff Johnson, and Brian Kelly, were each elected to three year terms.

[14] The school committee is governed by: Justin Alexander, Michele Sharpe, Shannon Kerrigan, Jennifer Maloney Plante, and Steve Albert.

[15] Greg Wehmeyer, Bruce Cates, and Christopher Brenneis represent the town at the King Philip Regional School Committee.