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History · Hazleton

Hazleton dates to 1806, and 47% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1901 on, and the census since 1870.

1806founded
0on the National Register
47%homes built before 1940
2old photos & papers
1famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Hazleton’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Hazleton began, and where its name came from

When was Hazleton founded?

1806

Hazleton dates its founding to 1806 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1870.

First census: 356 in 18702020 census: 194220 years

How did Hazleton get its name?

Hazleton was named in honor of Gervas Hazleton, believed to be the second settler to permanently locate to the county.

Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1856. Name: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.The full story ↓

What stands out about Hazleton’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 2 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19013 editions of the USGS map, 1901 to 1980. Watch Hazleton change.Boom and bustPeaked at 758 in 1900; 194 people lived here in 2020.Old housesHalf of Hazleton’s homes were built before 1942.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Hazleton’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Hazleton’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewState highway flooded by the White Rive…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Hazleton on the map, 1901 to 1980

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

Hazleton on the 1901 USGS mapHazleton on the 1959 USGS mapHazleton on the 1980 USGS map1901Princeton 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 Hazleton.

People over time

Hazleton, census by census

020040060080018801900192019401960198020002020Peak: 758

Peaked at 758 in 1900; 194 people lived here in 2020.

16 censuses, 1870–2020.

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

The story

How Hazleton came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Hazleton.

Read it all →

Hazleton is the second-oldest town in Gibson County after Patoka. It was named in honor of Gervas Hazleton, believed to be the second settler to permanently locate to the county. Hazleton first lived in a crude camp lit by large log fires that was a popular stopover for early migrants to the area.

The town was platted in 1856 by Lucius French. T. S. Fuller erected the town's first frame building, and John Breedlove built the town's blacksmith shop. The first steamboat of any note to travel up the White River was the Cleopatria in 1884.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Hazleton, 1806 to 1937

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1806
    FoundingHazleton is established
  3. 1856Post officeThe Hazelton post office opens
  4. 20th century
  5. 1900CensusPopulation peaks at 758
  6. 1901On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  7. 1907Born hereMelba Phillips is born here
  8. 1937In the archiveState highway flooded by the White River. Near Hazleton, Indiana
By decade

Hazleton, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1930s2 items
State highway flooded by the White River. Near Hazleton, Indiana1937State highway flooded by the White River. Near Hazlet…Damage to state highway and soil by flood. Near Hazleton, Indiana1937Damage to state highway and soil by flood. Near Hazle…
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today9 recent
Hazleton-old-church-in2018Hazleton-old-church-inHazleton-White-River-in2018Hazleton-White-River-inHazleton-United-Methodist-Ministries-Center-in2018Hazleton-United-Methodist-Ministries-Center-inHazleton-Town-Hall-in2018Hazleton-Town-Hall-inHazleton-RR-tracks-in2018Hazleton-RR-tracks-inHazleton-Methodist-Church-in2018Hazleton-Methodist-Church-inHazleton-Main-Street-in2018Hazleton-Main-Street-inHazleton-IOOF-town-hall-in2018Hazleton-IOOF-town-hall-inHazleton-Community-Center-in2018Hazleton-Community-Center-in
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

State highway flooded by the White River. Near Hazleton, Indiana
Retake this viewState highway flooded by the White River. Near Hazleton, Indiana, 1937

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Hazleton’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Places that used to be

Old corners

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

Hamlets and corners on the map
Decker Chapel

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Questions about Hazleton’s history

What year was Hazleton founded?

In 1806, according to Wikidata. Hazleton’s post office opened in 1856, and the census of 1870 counted 356 people here.

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
Start a conversation
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 (9), the Library of Congress (2), 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) 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.