Carved from the neighboring towns of Leicester and Rutland in central Massachusetts, Paxton was incorporated in 1765. Maj. Willard Moore led townsmen at the Battle of Bunker Hill 10 years later; he is honored in name at Moore State Park. With farms, gristmills, and sawmills throughout the landscape, the town's population reveres its past. Major employers have shifted from the once thriving shoe and boot industry in the 19th century to the town government and Anna Maria College, a Catholic liberal arts school established in Paxton in 1952. Community pride has always been central to Paxton; citizens have celebrated their history with anniversary parades since the early 20th century. This tradition of celebrating history continues with Paxton, which showcases this vibrant, suburban community, currently planning its 250h anniversary.