Englewood’s post office opened in 1895, and 3 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 42% of U.S. towns · #103 of 638 in Florida. What drives it
Most of Englewood was built recently: 1% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1982. 3 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 20 buildings between them. Below: 3 old photos and papers, maps from 1956 on, and the census since 1970.
The Englewood post office opened in 1895, the earliest record of the town by name. Wikidata gives 1896. Another post office, Woodmere (1922), opened inside today’s town and later closed.
First census: 3,549 in 19702020 census: 20,800131 years
How historic is Englewood?
C+
More historic than 42% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
Founding year: the first Englewood post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Wikidata: 1896.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Englewood’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Englewood is more historic than 42% of U.S. towns, #103 of 638 in Florida. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
C+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Englewood’s overall grade.
Few Florida towns list much on the Register (a typical Florida town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Englewood’s 10.5 sits above most of its state (85% of Florida towns have fewer) while its 21 historic buildings outnumber those of 80% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to B. The pre-1940 share (±0.6 points) is firm at this size. The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date; Wikidata’s 1896 falls in the same era, so the grade doesn’t depend on which one is used.
Founding year: the first post office (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 Englewood’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Archeological digs in what is now Englewood discovered ceramics belonging to both the Weeden Island culture and Safety Harbor culture.
One of the earliest white settlers in the area was William Goff, who arrived by schooner from Tampa in 1878. He settled a piece of land a few miles south of where Englewood would be platted. On July 3, 1895, a post office was established in the area as well. The Great Freeze of 1894 and 1895, along with a bad freeze in 1896, led to the decimation of many local orange plants. For this reason, by 1897, a Manatee County General Directory listed fish as the chief product for Englewood.
The Englewood post office opened in 1895, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1896.
How does Englewood rank for history?
Englewood is more historic than 42% of U.S. towns, #103 of 638 in Florida. 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 Englewood?
Three places: the Lemon Bay Woman's Club (listed 1988), the Hermitage-Whitney Historic District (2002) and the Manasota Beach Club Historic District (2023).
How old are the homes in Englewood?
1% of Englewood’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 0.6% for a Florida town; the median home was built in 1982.
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 (12), the National Register of Historic Places (3), Wikipedia, 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.
1999
1999
2025
2021
2019
2019
2017
2017
2015
2011
2011
