Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1964 on and the census since 1910.
Archer dates its founding to 1888 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1910.
Archer was named for John Archer, who owned the town site.
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Archer’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of Archer.
Archer was founded in 1888. It was named for John Archer, who owned the town site.
Longstanding Mayor Bill Engeltjes oversaw the centennial celebration of 1988. Replete with a parade, fashion show, street dance, and "greased pig" contest, the celebration honored Northwest Iowan heritage.
The town of Archer supports two churches: one Methodist and one Reformed.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Archer, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The town of Archer was named after John H. Archer who owned the land upon which the town site was started. Mr. Archer is an extensive farmer still living near the town. The town started in 1888. About the first building was a blacksmith shop, which was in March, 1888. That same spring T.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
church was erected on the town sitt where services are conducted, with O. E Van Horn as pastor. There is also organized a Christian church at Archer, supplied from Primghar and Sheldon. The town has good prospects of much future growth, and it probably will not be long, before it will wear municipal honors.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyEvery edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Archer. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Archer.
Between 117 and 351 people in every census since 1910.
12 censuses, 1910–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Archer’s Wikipedia page.
Archer’s post office has been open since 1892. Another post office, Archer Grove, opened and closed inside today’s town.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
In 1888, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Archer’s post office opened in 1888, and the census of 1910 counted 351 people here.
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
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). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (2), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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