North Haven is a great family town just north of New Haven and all its metropolitan amenities. It is a suburban town in New Haven County on the outskirts of New Haven, less than 10 minutes from downtown New Haven. Yale University, Quinnipiac University and Sleeping Giant State Park are all nearby. It is also less than ten miles from Long Island Sound. There is close access to I-91 and the Merritt Parkway. The population in 2005 was 23,908. Money Magazine ranked North Haven as the eighty-sixth "best place to live" In July 2007. The town has a total area of 21.1 square miles.

Reverend James Pierpont (1659-1714) of New Haven gave 8 acres to his neighbors in the Northeast Parish, as North Haven was called "provided those neighbors will set their meeting house there and make their training and burying there." Completed in 1722, the first meeting house stood on the Green. About forty families lived in North Haven in the early part of the eighteenth century. All of these people were self sufficient farmers, producing what they needed for themselves. In 1786, the General Assembly permitted North Haven to incorporate as a town, separate from New Haven. New roads were built like the Hartford Turnpike in 1798 and the Middletown Turnpike in 1813. North Haven counted 1236 people inhabitants in 1790 with the number of sheep outnumbering the residents. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution was taking shape. In 1838, the New Haven and Hartford Railroad ran tracks through North Haven. In addition, small industries began in 1830. On the 1850 census, 62% of the population were listed as farmers. The other third worked in various nonagricultural occupations. After the American Civil War, the expanding production of bricks, brought many immigrants to North Haven.

By 1900, eighteen passenger trains stopped at the Broadway station in North Haven every day. In addition, trolleys ran to New Haven. After 1900, the line was extended as far north as Wallingford. After World War I, the automobile changed life in this country town. The brickyards along the river were the major industry. However, those residents who owned a car could live in North Haven and commute to New Haven for their jobs. Small real estate development began to grow up along the southern edge of town.

Significant population growth occurred at the end of World War II with the town’s population quadrupling between 1945 and 1970. Pratt & Whitney and Marlin Firearms set up factories providing employment for the population. This population boom spurred the building of a new police station, firehouse, library, and five schools in the 1950s and 1960s to accommodate the growing community. The history of North Haven is detailed in the book: Amidst Cultivated and Pleasant Fields: A Bicentennial History of North Haven, Connecticut by Lucy McTeer Brusic.

Today, North Haven offers a perfect combination of a thriving business community and a classic small town. It has a growing commercial, retailing and manufacturing base which employs approximately 12,640 people. A solid commercial and industrial base help keep residential taxes stable. There are more than 75 manufacturing and commercial firms in North Haven. Five industrial parks comprising 490 acres host such corporate tenants as Marlin Firearms and Quebecor/Northeast Graphics. North Haven is also a division headquarters for surgical device-maker Covidien. The town has a relatively large parks system. Housing stock is diversified.Beautiful custom homes grace former farmlands. The town enjoys thriving social services and recreation programs. It maintains multiple ball fields, parks, a pool and numerous sports leagues. Social services include a community-based and accredited child care program, youth services, senior services, counseling and more. The town green is home to popular summer concerts. The North Haven Fair is a country favorite.

North Haven schools provide young people with excellent programs. There are 4 public elementary schools in North Haven along with one middle school and one high school. Higher education opportunities include nearby Gateway Community College, Yale University, Albertus Magnus College, Southern Connecticut State University, University of New Haven and Quinnipiac University. Quinnipiac University opened a 100-acre graduate education in part of the former Blue Cross/Blue Shield campus in 2009.

Notable residents of North Haven have included: David Vanacore, composer, is a native of North Haven. Paul Marcarelli, actor and screenwriter whom graduated from North Haven High School. Dan Fegan, NBA agent, graduated from North Haven High School and Yale law school. Kevin Gilbride, offensive coordinator, New York Giants. Tiffany Weimer, American professional soccer player (Boston Breakers) Ezra Stiles, president of Yale