This study investigates the temporal relationships between vascular stiffness, central hemodynamics, microvascular function, and blood pressure progression in a longitudinal community-based cohort. The study is based on the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort, examining data from two cycles (1998-2001 and 2005-2008) of 1759 participants. Key findings include: 1. **Vascular Stiffness and Blood Pressure**: Higher forward wave amplitude (FWA) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) during examination cycle 7 were associated with higher systolic blood pressure during examination cycle 8. Lower FWA and CFPWV during cycle 7 were associated with higher diastolic blood pressure during cycle 8. 2. **Incident Hypertension**: Higher FWA, CFPWV, and augmentation index during cycle 7 were associated with incident hypertension during cycle 8. Conversely, initial blood pressure was not independently associated with the risk of progressive aortic stiffening. 3. **Microvascular Function**: Lower brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and higher baseline brachial artery flow during cycle 7 were associated with incident hypertension, even after adjusting for blood pressure and tonometry variables. 4. **Conclusion**: The study suggests that aortic stiffness, central pressure pulsatility, peripheral wave reflection, large artery endothelial function, and microvascular function jointly antedate and potentially contribute to the development of clinical hypertension. Arterial stiffness may be a precursor rather than a result of hypertension. The study highlights the importance of targeting vascular stiffness and microvascular function as potential interventions to prevent incident hypertension.This study investigates the temporal relationships between vascular stiffness, central hemodynamics, microvascular function, and blood pressure progression in a longitudinal community-based cohort. The study is based on the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort, examining data from two cycles (1998-2001 and 2005-2008) of 1759 participants. Key findings include: 1. **Vascular Stiffness and Blood Pressure**: Higher forward wave amplitude (FWA) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) during examination cycle 7 were associated with higher systolic blood pressure during examination cycle 8. Lower FWA and CFPWV during cycle 7 were associated with higher diastolic blood pressure during cycle 8. 2. **Incident Hypertension**: Higher FWA, CFPWV, and augmentation index during cycle 7 were associated with incident hypertension during cycle 8. Conversely, initial blood pressure was not independently associated with the risk of progressive aortic stiffening. 3. **Microvascular Function**: Lower brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and higher baseline brachial artery flow during cycle 7 were associated with incident hypertension, even after adjusting for blood pressure and tonometry variables. 4. **Conclusion**: The study suggests that aortic stiffness, central pressure pulsatility, peripheral wave reflection, large artery endothelial function, and microvascular function jointly antedate and potentially contribute to the development of clinical hypertension. Arterial stiffness may be a precursor rather than a result of hypertension. The study highlights the importance of targeting vascular stiffness and microvascular function as potential interventions to prevent incident hypertension.