The first settlement of New Glasgow was by Deacon Thomas Fraser in 1784, and it was officially incorporated in 1875.
Major employers in the area include Michelin, Trenton Works (a rail car company) and Kimberly-Clark. Sobeys, a national grocery chain, is based in nearby Stellarton. Convergys Corporation employs 500+ people in a contact centre which provides customer service and technical support for Microsoft.