Barstow’s post office opened in 1878, and 48% of its homes were built before 1940
How Barstow began
When was Barstow founded?
The Barstow post office opened in 1878, the earliest record of the town by name.
History across the town line
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
Questions about Barstow’s history
What year was Barstow founded?
The Barstow post office opened in 1878, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
Memory lane
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
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 →