[1] South Britain is located near the geographic center of Southbury, extending north along Connecticut Route 172 (South Britain Avenue) north of its crossing of the Pomperaug River.

The village center, now a cluster of commercial, civic, and residential buildings, reaches its northern extent at the cemetery north of East Flat Hill Road.

[2] The early industries of South Britain included fulling, grist, and lumber mills, which served the surrounding area.

In the 19th century a wider variety of water-powered industries developed, including textile manufacture.

That period marked the height of the area's economic influence, as the mills gradually declined.