Incorporated in 1973, Dunstable originally extended from Londonderry, New Hampshire to Chelmsford, Massachusetts. But during the 1700's the town was broken up into sections leaving only 10,500 acres to the town. The town was named in honor of Mrs. Edward Tyng, one of the early settlers coming from Bedfordshire, England. The land had been purchased from the Naticook and Wamisit Indians in 1661, for a mere 20 sterling.