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AHistory
History · Waterford

Waterford dates to 1801, and 18% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 87% of U.S. towns · #63 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it

9 places in town are on the National Register, among them eight historic districts with 297 buildings between them. Below: 4 old photos and papers, maps from 1892 on, and the census since 1820.

1801founded
9on the National Register
18%homes built before 1940
4old photos & papers
10famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Waterford’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Waterford began

When was Waterford founded?

1801

Waterford dates its founding to 1801 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1820.

First census: 2,239 in 1820225 years

How historic is Waterford?

A

More historic than 87% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1826.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Waterford’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Waterford is more historic than 87% of U.S. towns, #63 of 155 in Connecticut. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Waterford’s overall grade.
Founding era1801, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194017.5% of homes (±3.2) · typical CT town 15.1% · U.S. 8.4%BNational Register9 listings, 332 historic buildings, 169 per 10,000 residents · typical CT town 73.3 · U.S. 2.4A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 87%
NewerOlder
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 60%

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 Waterford’s 169 sits above most of its state (70% of Connecticut towns have fewer) while its 332 historic buildings outnumber those of 96% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.2 points). Two sources give 1801.

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 Waterford’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Lost villages1 post office opened and closed inside today’s Waterford, and 14 old place names are still on the map.A history waiting to be writtenOnly 4 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.A historic districtThe Quaker Hill Historic District takes in 92 historic buildings.On the map since 18926 editions of the USGS map, 1892 to 1983. Watch Waterford change.
★ What stands out · Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Waterford’s post office has been open since 1826. Another post office, Millstone, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Waterford
1826–today
Quaker Hil
1890–today
Millstone
1894–1946
18201920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
BartlettGranitevilleHarrisonsJordanManitock SpringMillstoneMorningside ParkOswegatchiePleasure BeachQuaker HillRidgewoodSandy PointSeasideThames View
Gone or out of use
Gilead ChurchchurchWaterford Stationlocale
6cemeteries and burying grounds inside Waterford
Congregation Ohave SholemGreat NeckJordanLakes PondOld RogersUnion

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Start Waterford’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Waterford’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
3 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewQuaker Hill trestle postcard: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the National Register

9 listings protect 332 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
9
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
332
each building in a district counts
first listed
1986
Eolia-Harkness Estate
Eolia-Harkness Estate, built 1950Jordan Village Historic DistrictThe Seaside, built 1934Quaker Hill Historic DistrictGraniteville Historic DistrictHartford ColonyOswegatchie Historic DistrictWalnut Grove, built 1964Oil Mill Historic District
BuildingsDistricts

Architectural styles listings

Colonial Revival5
Greek Revival4
Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals3
Gothic Revival3
Queen Anne2
Tudor Revival2
Eolia-Harkness EstateSecond Renaissance Revival · Built 1950
Jordan Village Historic DistrictGreek Revival
The SeasideLate 19th and 20th Century Revivals · Built 1934
Quaker Hill Historic District20th Century Revivals
Graniteville Historic DistrictGreek Revival
Hartford ColonyLate Victorian
Oswegatchie Historic DistrictLate 19th and 20th Century Revivals
Walnut GroveFederal · Built 1964
All 9 listings
Oil Mill Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2023

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

The story

How Waterford came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Waterford.

Read it all →

The first people immigrated from England in 1637 and came to the New London and Waterford area (at the time, this land was called West Farms). One of the first people who set sail for this area was John Winthrop Jr. Waterford got its name for its proximity to being in between two rivers. The residents of Waterford resided in wigwams until they dug up plots for 38 houses near the Great Neck area. Winthrop was given several hundred acres of land, including Millstone Point and Alewife Cove. Various dams, mills, and ponds were constructed in these areas. The only expansion of people in the Waterford-New London area were the growth of families and children. Later on, more people immigrated to Waterford, including Welsh, Italian, Russian, Irish, and Scottish.

ChaptersFounding19th century20th century

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Waterford, 1801 to 1964

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1801
    FoundingWaterford is established
  3. 1826Post officeThe Waterford post office opens
  4. 1880Born hereMarguerite Caetani is born here
  5. 1882Born hereAnn Haven Morgan is born here
  6. 1890Post officeThe Quaker Hil post office opens
  7. 1892On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  8. 1893Born hereCornellia Van A. Chapin is born here
  9. 1894Post officeThe Millstone post office opens
  10. 20th century
  11. 1907In the archiveQuaker Hill trestle postcard
  12. 1917In the archiveQuaker Hill trestle, 1917
  13. 1934BuiltThe Seaside is built
  14. 1937In the archiveConnecticut - Norwalk through Windsor Locks
  15. 1946Post officeThe Millstone post office closes
  16. 1950BuiltEolia-Harkness Estate is built
  17. 1951Born hereJonn Serrie is born here
  18. 1964BuiltWalnut Grove is built
By decade

Waterford, decade by decade

3 decades in the archive, from the 1900s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1900s–1930s4 items
Quaker Hill trestle postcard1907–1915Quaker Hill trestle postcardPostcardQuaker Hill trestle, 19171917Quaker Hill trestle, 1917Connecticut - Norwalk through Windsor Locks1937Connecticut - Norwalk through Windsor LocksConnecticut - Norwalk through Windsor Locks1937Connecticut - Norwalk through Windsor Locks
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today24 recent
Isais Tree2020Isais TreeGorton Cemetery, Waterford, CT, October 20202020Gorton Cemetery, Waterford, CT, October 2020Camp Harkness2019Camp HarknessCamp Harkness2019Camp HarknessToys R Us2018Toys R UsLowe's2018Lowe'sI-95 at I-395, East Lyme, CT2018I-95 at I-395, East Lyme, CTSeaside Sanatorium Building and Metal Structure June 20172017Seaside Sanatorium Building and Metal Structure June …Sears2017SearsEOTC HammondMansion2017EOTC HammondMansionSpeedbowl in 20142014Speedbowl in 2014Jordan Green2014Jordan GreenHouse on Park Drive, Oswegatchie Historic District2014House on Park Drive, Oswegatchie Historic DistrictInterstate 95 in Connecticut2013Interstate 95 in ConnecticutInterstate 95 in Connecticut2013Interstate 95 in ConnecticutNortheast Regional in Waterford 22012Northeast Regional in Waterford 2Northeast Regional in Waterford 12012Northeast Regional in Waterford 1Northeast Regional at Miner Lane 22012Northeast Regional at Miner Lane 2Northeast Regional at Miner Lane 12012Northeast Regional at Miner Lane 1Miner Lane grade crossing2012Miner Lane grade crossingFieldstone terraced yard2011Fieldstone terraced yardWaterford CT lg2010Waterford CT lgCaptain Johns Sunbeam Fleet2009Captain Johns Sunbeam FleetWALNUT GROVE, WATERFORD, NEW LONDON COUNJTY2008WALNUT GROVE, WATERFORD, NEW LONDON COUNJTY
On the map

Waterford on the map, 1892 to 1983

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Waterford. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Waterford on the 1892 USGS mapWaterford on the 1921 USGS mapWaterford on the 1934 USGS mapWaterford on the 1958 USGS mapWaterford on the 1970 USGS mapWaterford on the 1983 USGS map1892New London sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Waterford.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Quaker Hill trestle postcard
Retake this viewQuaker Hill trestle postcard, 1907–1915

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Waterford’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Waterford, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,000185019001950200019,571

Grew from 2,239 people in 1820 to 19,571 in 2020, 8 times over.

19 censuses, 1820–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Waterford’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

10 famous people were born in Waterford

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Ann Haven MorganAmerican zoologist and ecologist · b. 1882
C
Cornellia Van A. ChapinAmerican artist · b. 1893
Jonn SerrieAmerican electronic music composer · b. 1951
Marguerite CaetaniAmerican journalist · b. 1880
George P. DarrowAmerican politician · b. 1859
M
Morris B. PayneAmerican architect · b. 1885
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

New London41 historic placesA+East Lyme6 historic placesBNianticIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townMontville5 historic placesBLedyard12 historic placesBConning Towers-Nautilus Park3 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townGroton14 historic placesAGales Ferry2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townOxoboxo River2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Waterford’s history

What year was Waterford founded?

In 1801, according to Wikidata. Waterford’s post office opened in 1826, and the census of 1820 counted 2,239 people here.

How does Waterford rank for history?

Waterford is more historic than 87% of U.S. towns, #63 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 Waterford?

9 listings: 1 building and 8 historic districts with 297 contributing buildings. 332 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Waterford?

18% of Waterford’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.2 points), against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town; the median home was built in 1968.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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 (28), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (9), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) 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.