Chariton’s post office opened in 1849, and 42% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 97% of U.S. towns · #7 of 140 in Iowa. What drives it
14 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 51 buildings between them. Below: 3 old photos and papers, maps from 1883 on, and the census since 1860.
Founding year: the first Chariton post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Wikidata: 1850.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Chariton’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Chariton is more historic than 97% of U.S. towns, #7 of 140 in Iowa. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its age lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Chariton’s overall grade.
Iowa towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Iowa town has 9.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Chariton’s 151 sits above most of its state (89% of Iowa towns have fewer) while its 64 historic buildings outnumber those of 87% 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 (±7.5 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date; Wikidata gives 1850.
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 Chariton’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Chariton was platted in 1850. Chariton was the name of a French trader.
Some of the contributing properties are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Designed by local architect William L. Perkins and listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in the development of Chariton as a county seat, the Hotel Charitone is listed by the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance as one of the most endangered sites in Iowa. The hotel is currently undergoing restoration with the majority of the hotel being converted into apartments.
Passages that mention Chariton, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Lucas County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc1881 · page 594Read the page →
Read the text
Whereas, His huner, A. H Stutsaiaii, Mayor of the town of (JhHriton, is ftbought absenting himself from said town and from the State of Iowa, and WhtrtoBf laid nhange of Retidenoe has oanaed his honor to teoder his R«8igDa>- tion of the office of Mayor of the Town of Chariton. Wherefore, be it Resolved by the oommon council of the Town of Chariton. 1st. That we deeply regret the existence of causes Which make it nesseiy for his boner to siver his connection with this council.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Lucas County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc1881 · page 395Read the page →
Read the text
These were the ^rsi white people soiourning in Lucas county. Their settlement thus beinpj at the angle or sharp turn in the Chariton river, which forced the timber out to an extended point, they gave it the name of " Chariton Point." The next year — 1848 — after this Mormon exodus, Mr. Townsend being the next white man who came to this locality, he located a claim covering their abandoned settlement at " Chariton Point," upon which he erected a house, the lirst and only one in this part of the county, where he resided for some time after.
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.
Timeline
Chariton, 1849 to 1995
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
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.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Chariton. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1918Chariton 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 Chariton.
Every building
Chariton, building by building, 1883–1913
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
The Chariton post office opened in 1849, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1850.
How does Chariton rank for history?
Chariton is more historic than 97% of U.S. towns, #7 of 140 in Iowa. 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 Chariton?
14 listings: 12 buildings, among them the O. E. Payne House (listed 1979, the first), and 2 historic districts, the Chariton Cemetery Historic District and the Lucas County Courthouse Square Historic District, with 51 contributing buildings. 64 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Chariton?
42% of Chariton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.5 points), against a typical 22% for an Iowa town; the median home was built in 1955.
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 (3), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (14), 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), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) 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.
1907
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