The 5,000 acres originally comprising Newtown Township and the Townstead (now Newtown Borough) were part of the vast tract purchased by William Penn from the Indians in 1682. Penn originally called this area his "New Township" which evolved into "Newtown". The plan of the township and townstead were surveyed by Thomas Holme in 1684, and the boundaries that appear on his map of that date remain essentially the same today. The once rural community changed during the latter part of the 20th century, with homes replacing farmland. The Board of Supervisors has endeavored to maintain the Colonial charm of the 300-year-old community through the Comprehensive Plan and the Historic District Classification.