The district was expanded twice in 2003, adding residential areas along Grove, Prouty, Pleasant, High, and Main Streets, and industrial areas on Cherry, Wall, and Mechanic Streets, as well as Luther Hill Park.

At first strung out along Main Street, the town center grew at the junction of Main with Pleasant and Maple Streets (Massachusetts Route 31), which provided transport to the communities north and south of the village.

The town remained economically agricultural until the 19th century, when the Embargo Act of 1807 spurred industrial development.

Textile manufacturing in particular was concentrated just south of Main Street, resulting in early growth of housing to the east and west.

Later in the 19th century, as bootmaking changed from a cottage industry to a centralized one, the center again grew to accommodate workers at boot factories.