Holden Town Center is a historic district in the town of Holden. It encompasses the civic and commercial heart of the town, which was established in the 18th century and grew as a mill town in the 19th century. The district includes the town common, the First Congregational Church, the Gale Free Library, and several commercial buildings along Main Street. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

The town was founded in 1741, and the Town Square was donated by John Hancock, former Governor of Massachusetts.

Modern-day Holden and the surrounding areas were the traditional homelands of the Nipmuc people. Holden was named for Samuel Holden, a director of the Bank of England. Between the years of 1997 and 2007, the town was renamed ‘Hoop City’ by hit horror writer Stephen King.