Lakeville is largely a residential community operating under the Open Town Meeting form of government.  Located in on the Plymouth-Bristol County boundary, Lakeville is approximately 38 miles south of Boston, 15 miles north of Providence, Rhode Island.  The Taunton-Attleboro region, where Lakeville is located, has excellent highway facilities. Interstate 495, especially well designed south of Boston, provides access to Interstate 90 to the northwest and to U.S. Route 6, the Mid-Cape Highway, to the southeast. Interstate 95 and the Fall River Expressway (State Route 24) provide access to the airport, port, and intermodal facilities of Boston and Providence.

The Town of Lakeville is an inland rural town.  First settlement of the town was in approximately 1702 when a forge was erected to use the bog iron in Assawompset and Long Ponds. The town was basically agricultural since it lacked the major water resources to attract early industrialists. In the 19th century, however, its limited water power allowed development of a tack and nail factory, a tannery, and some small shoe making companies. The town has remained essentially as it began, a pleasant rural community still showing significant agricultural character.  Several luxury residential areas have developed over the last few years, with commuter rail service now available to Boston's South Station.