Braintree, town and district, administrative and historic county of Essex, England, in the north-central part of the county. The town of Braintree lies on the Roman road known as Stane Street. The district also includes the other old market towns of Halstead and Witham, which are set in rich farmlands. The wool cloth trade that brought prosperity to the towns and villages in the late Middle Ages was superseded by crepe and silk manufacture introduced by Huguenot refugees in the 17th century. Fine medieval churches and many noteworthy domestic buildings survive. Area district, 236 square miles (612 square km). Pop. (2001) town, 42,393; district, 132,179; (2011) town, 41,634; district, 147,084.