Cranbury was settled in 1682, in the center of what was known as the "potato district." Early residents hailed from France, England, Amsterdam, Scotland, Germany and even Norway.

"Cranberry Mills," thought to have been built by Thomas Grubbs, appears on a 1745 map of the area, but its ownership dates back to 1683.

Cranbury was bustling with activity well before it formally became a township. In 1780, the Cranbury Inn, then known as the United States Hotel on Old York Road, was a popular tavern. The L.P. Curtin House on North Main Street had the honor of housing Aaron Burr back in 1804, when he was fleeing from New York to Philadelphia after wounding Alexander Hamilton in a fatal duel. Stagecoaches later came through the area, transporting passengers between the two major cities, and in 1816, a turnpike opened between Bordentown and Cranbury.

When Cranbury officially became incorporated in 1872, the town had no funds of its own. Fortunately, South Brunswick donated $645 and Monroe $96 to get their neighbor off to a good start. By 1880, the town boasted carriage and shirt factories, a spice mill and no less than three physicians.

Today, although over 2,500 people call Cranbury "home," 989 acres of farmland on its western side has been successfully preserved. The town's historical beauty has also been secured, thanks to picturesque Brainerd Lake and the many old frame houses on Main Street that serve as the village center.