Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Libertyville dates its founding to 1845 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.
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 Libertyville’s history is told.
Peaked at 368 in 1960; 274 people lived here in 2020.
12 censuses, 1880–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Libertyville’s Wikipedia page.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Born hereThomas Jefferson Majors is born here
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyWikipedia doesn’t have a history of Libertyville yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Libertyville is a city in Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 274 at the time of the 2020 census. It was platted in 1845.
Libertyville was established in 1845. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 315 to 274 (-13%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Passages that mention Libertyville, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Foster's Point, at a venture, was near Libertyville. Troxell's Mill was where the road from Fairfield to Libertyville crosses Cedar. David Pebler, Elijah Smith and William Olney were named as the viewers. In January this road was divided among three supervisors. John Troxell was given the part from Fairfield to the mill ; Isaac McCleary from the mill half-way to Foster's Point, and James Wright the remainder.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The fifth Legislature authorized, in 1843, o"ly one road of interest to Jefferson County. It ran from Birmingham by way of the colony to the agency. The colony is now at Libertyville. The name was bestowed because a large number of settlers made their temporary home there while waiting for the opening of the new cession to settlement. The survey was made in December. Although so recently abandoned, the Agency is referred to in the report as the old Agency, so quickly do adjustments follow changes. John J. Mudgett was resident commissioner.
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.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Libertyville. 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 Libertyville.
Libertyville’s post office has been open since 1846.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
In 1845, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Libertyville’s post office opened in 1846, and the census of 1880 counted 296 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), 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 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.
2024
2024