In the 1630s, shortly after the arrival of the Puritans, the land of what would become Brookline was farmland for residents of nearby Boston.

In 1705, Brookline was incorporated as a town.

Brookline began shifting to being a residential community, and away from an agricultural community, in the late-18th century and early-19th century. Wealthy Bostonians, like Senator George Cabot, purchased farms and built weekend and summer homes.

Transportation links into Boston, like the Boston-Worcester Turnpike that was completed in 1804, helped the city grow greatly.

In 1884, an electric trolley, one of the country's first, began operation on Beacon Street.

Known as the "town of millionaires" in the early 1900s.

In the 1700s and 1800s, the majority of the town's residents were German and Irish immigrants who had moved from Boston.At the beginning of the 20th century, a significant Jewish community began to call the town home. By the middle of the century, this would only increase as many Jews from Boston relocated to Brookline.