Killingworth dates to 1667, and 3 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 64% of U.S. towns · #127 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it
Most of Killingworth was built recently: 7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1987. Its Register listings are the Oak Lodge, the Emmanuel Church and the Parmelee House. Below: 4 old photos and papers, maps from 1893 on, and the census since 1790.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Killingworth is more historic than 64% of U.S. towns, #127 of 155 in Connecticut. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
B
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Killingworth’s overall grade.
Connecticut towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Connecticut town has 73.3 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Killingworth’s 11.2 sits below most of its state (12% of Connecticut towns have fewer) while its 7 historic buildings outnumber those of 73% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1667.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C to A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.9 points).
Founding year: Wikidata (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 Killingworth’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Killingworth was established from the area called Hammonasset, taken from the local Native American tribe of the same name. The area originally incorporated the area of the present town of Clinton, which was separated from Killingworth along ecclesiastical borders in 1838. Part of New London County prior to May 1785, Killingworth was then included in the newly formed Middlesex County, where it remains today.
In 1667, according to Wikidata. the first U.S. census counted 2,156 people here in 1790.
How does Killingworth rank for history?
Killingworth is more historic than 64% of U.S. towns, #127 of 155 in Connecticut. 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.
What is on the National Register in Killingworth?
Three places: the Oak Lodge (listed 1986), the Emmanuel Church (1999) and the Parmelee House (2007).
How old are the homes in Killingworth?
7% of Killingworth’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.9 points), against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town; the median home was built in 1987.
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 Wikimedia Commons (8), the Library of Congress (2), the National Register of Historic Places (3), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, 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.
Date?
Date?
Date?
Date?
2019
2019
2018
2017
2016
2007
