Hyndman's history began around the latter part of the 1700s. Samuel Waters is believed to have made his homestead near Wills Creek prior to 1800. His settlement included a bridge that Waters built across the river. According to the History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania, Jacob Burket settled in this region prior to 1800 and that he engaged in 'wagoning' between Baltimore and Wheeling. A wagoner was traditionally one who drove wagons to haul people or goods. Then, circa 1800, Jacob Burkett and Amos Raley set up a business building boats for sale there.
The small collection of settlers became known as Bridgeport. Enoch Cade opened a mercantile in the settlement in 1850 and five years later the first school was opened in the growing village. The first 'public house', or tavern, was maintained by Solomon Allbright. The tracks of the railroad line of Baltimore & Ohio were laid around the perimeter of the town (which itself was defined by the Wills Creek river) in 1871.
New Bridgeport was the name given to the post office that was established on 21 June 1860. It was closed on 20 May 1862 and reopened on 14 June 1870. The town was incorporated into the Borough of New Bridgeport in September 1877. Then on 13 December 1877, the borough was renamed 'Hyndman' in honor of E. K. Hyndman, a superintendent of the B&O's Connellsville Division. The population of the borough, in 1880, totaled three hundred and thirty-three. Three years later, the population had risen to five hundred.
