The town of Holliston was incorporated on December 3, 1724 by virtue of approval by the General Court petition requesting that "the western part of Sherborn be a Town." The name was taken in honor of Thomas Hollis, Esq. of London, England, a benefactor of Harvard College.

The Town has grown from a community of a few hundred residents setting aside ten pounds per year for public education to a community of 13,000 with an annual budget of nearly $20 million including more than $12 million for a nationally recognized school system. Holliston approaches its 275th anniversary as a true community; volunteerism; community involvement, an on-call Fire Department and highly active service and citizen organizations all attest to the sense of community that distinguishes Holliston. The Town also strives to fulfill its role in the larger community through regional initiatives in purchasing, health care and education, and programs involving arts, culture
and diversity.