In 1669, thirty-eight freemen of the New Haven Colony signed a covenant to form a new plantation amongst the rolling hills and valleys east of the Quinnipiac River. With the official incorporation established the following year, Wallingford grew from a 17th-century colonial farming village into a thriving and diverse community. It was witness to the Revolutionary War and a pioneer in the Industrial Revolution, and it produced leaders in religion, arts, and politics. Robert Wallace and Samuel Simpson, who introduced silver manufacturing, and Moses Y. Beach, founder of the Associated Press, called Wallingford home. Their philanthropy helped expand schools, churches, and public services. Although the original footprint of the colonists has changed over the centuries, a stroll through the town reveals its richly preserved history. Impressive architectural styles line the streets, from 17th-century saltbox homes to Beaux-Arts mansions and Gothic Revival churches. Center Street Cemetery holds the final resting place of Wallingford's early settlers, and many of their names have left an indelible legacy.