Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Its Register listing is the Rutter Store. Below: maps from 1910 on and the census since 1900.
The St. Libory post office opened in 1874, the earliest record of the town by name.
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 St. Libory’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of St. Libory. 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 St. Libory.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of St. Libory yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
St. Libory or Saint Libory is a village in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, St. Libory had a population of 628.
Its first post office opened in 1874. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 615 to 628 (+2%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Passages that mention St. Libory, cut from the printed page as they were published.
the town of Hermanntown. Close by was a Catholic church, erected in 1846, and to which the name of St. Libory was given. In the village was the general store of H. Euetter, who had established it in 1849. In 1856 the post-office, called " Mud Creek," was moved to this store, and H. Euetter was appointed post-master — so that, when the town was platted, there were three names struggling for the supremacy. Mills were built ; business prospered, and, although people built on all sides of the platted town, no additions were made
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
business he closed to the complete satisfaction of all concerned, within a year. In 1868 he determined on a change of location, with a view to pursuing his trade of saddlery and harness making, and located in St. Libory, where he has since resided. Being of an active temperament he has combined with his regular trade various pursuits. Handled agricultural implements for four years ; was elected Justice of the Peace in 1873, which office he has held ever frince ; was appointed ass-ignee of the St. Libory mill company in
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.
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Grew from 220 people in 1900 to 628 in 2020.
13 censuses, 1900–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on St. Libory’s Wikipedia page.
Nobody well known was born in St. Libory itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
The St. Libory post office opened in 1874, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
One place: the Rutter Store (listed 1994).
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 Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (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.
