Chaplin was granted town status in May 1822. Agriculture, including lumber, was the prime occupation in the early years. Later, several mills sprang up along Stone House Brook - a shingle mill, a carding mill and several sawmills dotted the waterway. Women raised silkworms, spinning their silk. Three cider mills and a distillery were formed along Bare Hill in the 1870s.
Most residents now work outside of town.
By 1850, the town boasted 1,000 people. In 1997, Chaplin's population stood at 2,183. Three years after becoming a recognized town, the U.S. government established a post office on the main mail route between Providence and Hartford. Mail carried by stage passed through the town, arriving three times a week. Students attend Chaplin Elementary School on Palmer Road until sixth grade, then attend Parish Hill High School in Regional District 11 for grades seven through 12.