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History · Chapin

Chapin dates to 1858, and 100% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1972 on.

1858founded
0on the National Register
100%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Chapin began

When was Chapin founded?

1858

Chapin dates its founding to 1858 (Wikipedia’s history). Its post office opened in 1860.

2020 census: 71168 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1860.The full story ↓

What stands out about Chapin’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Chapin are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Chapin’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Chapin’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story

How Chapin came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Chapin.

Read it all →

Chapin was platted in 1858 by Josiah Bushnell Grinnell, who had previously founded Grinnell, Iowa. He gave this new town the name Chapin, the maiden name of his wife.

The original townsite was established two miles from the original townsite; when the railroad bypassed the community, Chapin was moved. The new site, originally called New Chapin, was established on July 29, 1871. The original townsite died, and New Chapin dropped the "New" in its name, becoming just "Chapin".

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Chapin, 1858 to 1972

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1858
    FoundingChapin is established
  3. 1860Post officeThe Chapin post office opens
  4. 20th century
  5. 1972On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
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On the map

Chapin on the map, 1972 to 1984

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

Chapin on the 1972 USGS mapChapin on the 1984 USGS map1972Hampton North sheet · 1:24,000

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

Famous people

Famous people close to Chapin

Nobody well known was born in Chapin itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
William D. LeahyUnited States admiral, ambassador to France, Ch… · b. 1875
Meredith WillsonAmerican composer, conductor, musical arranger,… · b. 1902
T
Tom LathamAmerican politician · b. 1948
Jack BaileyAmerican actor and daytime game show · b. 1907
Raef LaFrentzAmerican basketball player · b. 1976
G
George LambertAmerican modern pentathlete, born 1928 · b. 1928

Questions about Chapin’s history

What year was Chapin founded?

In 1858, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Chapin’s post office opened in 1860.

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
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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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, 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.