Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1940 on and the census since 1910.
The Shambaugh post office opened in 1880, the earliest record of the town by name. Another post office, Nodaway Mills (1870), opened inside today’s city and later closed.
Shambaugh was named for its founder, James Shambaugh.
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 Shambaugh’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of Shambaugh.
Shambaugh was laid out in 1881 as a depot on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. It was named for its founder, James Shambaugh.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Shambaugh, cut from the printed page as they were published.
This milling plant is situated on the west bank of the \\'est Xodaway river, about six miles south of Clarinda, and on section 36 of Harlan township, in the town of Shambaugh. Its early history is that in 1858-59. a man named Richardson erected a sawmill at this point which was propelled by the waters of the West Nodaway river. It passed through dift'erent men's hands and a man named String, in company with another man. sold the mill to James Shambaugh. who added a small grinding concern which he ran until 1883. when the mill was rebuilt and the patent process "roller system"
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Shambaugh was platted October 29, 1881, on section 36, township 68, range 37, by James and Julia Shambaugh. Page Centre was platted November 11 1881, by E. S. and Mar>' Huston.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Shambaugh bridge, Howe truss ; re-built in 1877. Nodaway Mills bridge, iron ; built in 1870. Morsman Station bridge, Howe truss, covered; built in 1880.
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.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Shambaugh. 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 Shambaugh.
Between 159 and 278 people in every census since 1910.
12 censuses, 1910–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Shambaugh’s Wikipedia page.
Shambaugh’s post office has been open since 1880. Another post office, Nodaway Mills, 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).
The Shambaugh post office opened in 1880, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
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 (3), 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 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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