Stratford is a rural service centre, serving the agricultural economy of its wider hinterland.

The name is taken from a story of the Ngāti Ruanui chieftainess/Puhi Ariki named Rua-pū-tahanga who fled her husband Whatihua from Waikato, travelling the track known as Te ara tapu o Ruaputahanga which stretches from Urenui down through Tariki, and ends near Patea.

Each travelling party would recollect the story of Rua-pū-tahanga sleeping with her face to the sky.

In 1876, Taranaki Waste Lands Board assistant surveyor Edwin Stanley Brookes, Jnr.

More lots were laid out by Peter Cheal in 1879, and in 1880 Skinner was directed to survey the southern half of the town.

On 3 December 1877, the name Stratford-upon-Patea was adopted, on the motion of William Crompton of the Taranaki Waste Lands Board.

[14] The connection to William Shakespeare's hometown led to the naming of 67 streets after Shakespearian characters from 27 of his plays.

[14] Today New Zealand's only glockenspiel clock tower plays the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet three times a day.

The spoken words are provided via external loudspeakers - there is no carillon (multiple bells) as would be more typical for glockenspiels in towers.

In the same year, Stratford became the third town in New Zealand to have electric street lighting, on the initiative of inventor and entrepreneur Alexander Walker Reid.

[28] Stratford has a number of public parks and reserves, with names reflecting its English and Māori heritage;