Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1934 on and the census since 1880.
The Atkinson post office opened in 1856, the earliest record of the town by name. Wikidata gives 1867.
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 Atkinson’s history is told.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Atkinson yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Atkinson is a town in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 965 at the 2020 census, down from 972 in 2010.
Its first post office opened in 1856. Its population held steady between the last two censuses: 972 in 2010, 965 in 2020.
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Passages that mention Atkinson, cut from the printed page as they were published.
At a meeting of the legal voters held in the public school house, January 12, 1867, it was voted that the village of Atkinson be incorporated. Nineteen votes were cast — eleven for, and eight against incorporation. John Ashley, Jr., was chosen President of the meeting, and Luke Wells, Clerk.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
familiar with the ways and customs and the value of his services increased, his wages swelled in proportion. About the year 1863 he rented some land in the township of Atkinson, and later he was similarly situated in the township of Loraine. In 1865 he made his first purchase of land by buying 160 acres in the township of Geneseo, situated on section 2.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
On coming to Henry County he settled on section 31, in the township of Atkinson. The land of which he became the possessor is situated in the townships of Cornwall, Atkinson and Geneseo, and comprises 310 acres. He was engaged in its management until his removal to the city of Genes-io, which transpired in 1873. He retains the ownership of his estate, but is not in active business. He has given
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
In April, 1836, the village of Cleveland was laid out, on the south bank of Rock River, on Section 31, by George Charles, county surveyor of Knox County, for Charles Atkinson and James D. Tabor, being the first town laid out in the county (and it has been laid out ever since). The first log buildings in Cleveland were built in 1836, by George Brandenburg and Thomas Glenn, for George Tyler and Charles Atkinson, the one for Atkinson being a double log house, one-half being used for a store and the other for a dwelling — both of which buildings can be seen to-day
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 Atkinson. 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 Atkinson.
Between 504 and 1,138 people in every census since 1880.
15 censuses, 1880–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Atkinson’s Wikipedia page.
The Atkinson post office opened in 1856, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1867.
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 (1), 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.
2012
