More historic than 18% of U.S. towns · #509 of 847 in California. What drives it
Most of Muscoy was built recently: 4% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1958. Below: maps from 1896 on and the census since 1970.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Muscoy is more historic than 18% of U.S. towns, #509 of 847 in California. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Muscoy’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 Muscoy’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 two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.1 points).
Founding year: our sources. 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 Muscoy’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Spanish and Mexican land grants made up much of the Inland Empire during the early 1800s. Among these ranchos included Rancho Santa Ana Del Chino, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho San Bernardino and Rancho Muscupiabe.
Rancho Muscupiabe encompassed what is now Muscoy as well as portions of San Bernardino. The area’s recorded history dates back to 1843 when the land was granted to Michael White. The name Muscoy is believed to be a shortened version of Muscupiabe. In 1891, two local ranchers formed the Muscoy Mutual Water Company, which helped to establish the community’s name and identity.
Muscoy is more historic than 18% of U.S. towns, #509 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 Muscoy?
4% of Muscoy’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.1 points), against a typical 3.4% for a California town; the median home was built in 1958.
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 Wikipedia, 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.
