Incorporated: 1769

Origin: First a part of Dunstable, then settled as West Hollis, the town was granted in 1769 as Raby. Governor John Wentworth named the town in honor of his cousin, fourth Earl of Strafford and Baron of Raby Castle, in County Durham, England. The town was renamed in 1798 at the suggestion of one of the town's leading citizens, who hailed from Brookline, Massachusetts.

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 338 residents in 1790

Population Trends: Brookline's population grew over six times larger between 1950-2000, growing well above the average rate. Decennial growth rates ranged from an 18 percent increase between 1950-1960 to a 73 percent increase between 1990-2000, the fourth highest increase for that decade. Brookline's population grew by a total of 3,510 residents, going from 671 in 1950 to 4,181 in 2000. The 2003 Census estimate for Brookline was 4,497 residents, which ranked 75th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2003: 215.9 persons per square mile of land area. Brookline contains 19.9 square miles of land area and 0.3 square miles of inland water area.