Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Whitesburg dates its founding to 1842 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1900.
Whitesburg was named for John D. White, a state politician and Speaker of the United States House.
More historic than 90% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Whitesburg is more historic than 90% of U.S. towns. All 2 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
Kentucky towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Kentucky town has 29.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Whitesburg’s 488 sits above most of its state (91% of Kentucky towns have fewer) while its 86 historic buildings outnumber those of 88% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikipedia (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 →
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 Whitesburg’s history is told.
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.
Whitesburg’s post office has been open since 1892. Two other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikipedia’s history of Whitesburg.
Whitesburg was founded in 1842 on land offered by Stephen Hiram Hogg to build the county seat. Previously called Summit city, it was renamed for John D. White who had introduced Letcher county's enactment bill in the State legislature.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
Born hereHarry M. Caudill is born here
Born hereJohn Beatty is born here
Born hereAngie Hatton is born here
Born hereJessamyn Duke is born here
2023North Fork Kentucky River in
2023Main Street in Whitesburg, Kentucky downtown
2023Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church
2017Whitesburg municipal building
2014PILOT--SPY--HERO
2014Letcher County Courthouse
2012City of Whitesburg Overlook from Town Hill Trail
2008Former Coca-Cola bottling plant
2004KYMap-doton-WhitesburgEvery edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Whitesburg. 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 Whitesburg.
Between 194 and 2,139 people in every census since 1900.
13 censuses, 1900–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Whitesburg’s Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
In 1842, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Whitesburg’s post office opened in 1843, and the census of 1900 counted 194 people here.
Whitesburg is more historic than 90% 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.
One place: the Whitesburg Historic District (listed 2006).
18% of Whitesburg’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.5 points), against a typical 5.9% for a Kentucky town; the median home was built in 1965.
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).
From Wikimedia Commons (9), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (1), 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.
