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History · Mason City Township

Mason City Township dates to 1857, and 46% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1948 on and the census since 1860.

1857founded
0on the National Register
46%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Mason City Township began

When was Mason City Township founded?

1857

Mason City Township dates its founding to 1857 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1860.

First census: 264 in 18602020 census: 2,330169 years
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1858.The full story ↓

What stands out about Mason City Township’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Mason City Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Mason City Township’s homes were built before 1950.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Mason City Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Mason City Township’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story

How Mason City Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Mason City Township.

Read it all →

Mason City was established in 1857. The city took its name from Mason County.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Mason City Township, decade by decade

Today2 recent
Farmers State Bank, Mason City, IL2023Farmers State Bank, Mason City, ILMason City and Greenview, Illinois2012Mason City and Greenview, Illinois
On the map

Mason City Township on the map, 1948 to 1980

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Mason City Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Mason City Township on the 1948 USGS mapMason City Township on the 1980 USGS map1948Mason City 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 Mason City Township.

People over time

Mason City Township, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,000190019502000Peak: 2,719

Between 264 and 2,719 people in every census since 1860.

17 censuses, 1860–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Mason City Township’s Wikipedia page.

Places that used to be

Old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Luther
Gone or out of use
Pollock SchoolschoolSwing Grove Schoolschool
3cemeteries and burying grounds inside Mason City Township
Cherry GroveMason CitySwing Grove

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Salt Creek TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townSheridan TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townAllens Grove TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townPennsylvania TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townPrairie Creek TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Mason City Township’s history

What year was Mason City Township founded?

In 1857, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Mason City Township’s post office opened in 1858, and the census of 1860 counted 264 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

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 →

From Wikimedia Commons (2), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.