American Canyon was first counted by the census in 1980
More historic than 3% of U.S. towns · #829 of 847 in California. What drives it
Most of American Canyon was built recently: 0.6% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1998. Below: maps from 1949 on and the census since 1980.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, American Canyon is more historic than 3% of U.S. towns, #829 of 847 in California. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of American Canyon’s overall grade.
Few California towns list much on the Register (a typical California town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so American Canyon’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (31% of California towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to D. The pre-1940 share (±0.6 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: the first census (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about American Canyon’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Hamlets and corners on the map
CollinsLombardLowellSquab
Gone or out of use
American Canyon Schoolschool
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
The story so far
American Canyon, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of American Canyon yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
American Canyon (previously known as Napa Junction) is a city in southern Napa County, California, United States, 35 miles (55 km) northeast of San Francisco, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. The 2020 census reported the city's population as 21,837. Its ZIP Code is 94503, and its area code is 707. It is in the Pacific Time time zone and observes Daylight-Saving Time. The city was incorporated in 1992.
Its first post office opened in 1980. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 19,454 to 21,837 (+12%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
By decade
No old photos in the archives yet
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of American Canyon. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1949Cuttings Wharf sheet · 1:24,000
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of American Canyon.
People over time
American Canyon, census by census
Grew from 5,712 people in 1980 to 21,837 in 2020, 3 times over.
5 censuses, 1980–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on American Canyon’s Wikipedia page.
Famous people
Famous people close to American Canyon
Nobody well known was born in American Canyon itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
The American Canyon post office opened in 1980, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1992.
How does American Canyon rank for history?
American Canyon is more historic than 3% of U.S. towns, #829 of 847 in California. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in American Canyon?
0.6% of American Canyon’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 3.4% for a California town; the median home was built in 1998.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
