The land where the Town of North Haven is located was part of the second purchase of land made by the New Haven settlers in December 1638 from Montowese of the Wangunk Indians. The cost of this land was thirteen coats. The New Haven settlers were a wealthy group who were accustomed to owning large tracts of land back in England. Soon after they arrived, some of them began to farm the outlying lands in North Haven. Some of the settlers would keep a house around the town green in New Haven and a farm in North Haven. They could either ride our by horse or go up the river by canoe to tend their lands. As the farms grew homes were added to save the long trip.

Some of the early settlers of North Haven were, the Humiston, Blakeslee and Thorpe families. The center began to develop around 1670 when land was set aside by the church for a meeting house. The meeting house land was laid out to include a cemetery and a drill field or common green area. In 1716 a separate church society was formed. In 1739, the area was named North Haven.

Very early in its history (1640) a brickyard was established and other small cottage industries that supported the farms followed. Its position on the Quinnipiac River and later on the rail line provided an impetus for the growth of industry. Through the years many industries have called North Haven home.

In October 1786, North Haven separated from New Haven and was incorporated as the 96th Connecticut town.

A branch of Gateway Community Technical College is located within the town. It is a State supported technical college that was formed in 1992 by the merger of South Central Community College and Greater New Haven State Technical College. Its North Haven and Long Wharf campuses have over 5,000 students enrolled in over 60 programs. North Haven is also the location of the office of the Greater New Haven Association of Realtors and the New Haven Real Estate School.

North Haven's location with four exits from Interstate 91 make it a desirable commercial and residential location convenient to the rest of Connecticut. There are plans to improve the town offices, police station and the library is being rebuilt. The streets around the Town Center will also be beautified to compliment the town hall improvements.