New Paris’ post office opened in 1852, and 14% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 32% of U.S. towns. What drives it
How New Paris began
When was New Paris founded?
The New Paris post office opened in 1852, the earliest record of the town by name.
How historic is New Paris?
More historic than 32% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
What drives New Paris’ History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, New Paris is more historic than 32% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
Indiana towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Indiana town has 7.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so New Paris’ 0.0 sits below most of its state (22% of Indiana towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: the first post office (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
Questions about New Paris’ history
What year was New Paris founded?
The New Paris post office opened in 1852, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does New Paris rank for history?
New Paris is more historic than 32% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in New Paris?
14% of New Paris’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.7 points), against a typical 14% for an Indiana town; the median home was built in 1970.
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).