Ludlow’s post office opened in 1821, and 19% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 82% of U.S. towns · #213 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
2 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 93 buildings between them. Below: 6 old photos and papers, maps from 1887 on, and the census since 1790.
The Ludlow post office opened in 1821, the earliest record of the town by name. Another post office, Ludlow Centre (1874), opened inside today’s town and later closed.
First census: 560 in 17902020 census: 21,002205 years
How historic is Ludlow?
A−
More historic than 82% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
Founding year: the first Ludlow post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Ludlow’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Ludlow is more historic than 82% of U.S. towns, #213 of 283 in Massachusetts. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Ludlow’s overall grade.
Massachusetts towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Massachusetts town has 46.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Ludlow’s 44.5 sits near the middle of its state (46% of Massachusetts towns have fewer) while its 93 historic buildings outnumber those of 89% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.4 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date.
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 →
What stands out about Ludlow’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The Indigenous people along the Chicopee River, including modern-day Ludlow, were Algonquian speaking peoples. Though records are incomplete, the first inhabitants were likely the Nipmuc or Pocomtuc tribes. During King Philip’s War (1675–1676), British settlers forced a band of Indigenous people, led by Roaring Thunder, to jump to the water of the Chicopee River to escape their attackers (this place has since been called Indian Leap).
Passages that mention Ludlow, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The history of Ludlow, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of leading citizens, reminiscences, genealogies, farm histories, and an account of the centennial celebration, June 17, 18741912 · page 58Read the page →
Read the text
the time of its organization there had been committees chosen by the town to arrange a settlement with the town of Springfield concerning certain ministerial and school lands lying in the north division of the outward commons, which was included within the territory of Ludlow. A settlement was finally effected in 1802, and the town of Ludlow was to pay the town of Springfield $100, the First Parish of Springfield $250, and to Bezaleel Howard $250, or $600 in all, in consideration of which all rights in said lands were forfeited and they were deeded to
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The history of Ludlow, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of leading citizens, reminiscences, genealogies, farm histories, and an account of the centennial celebration, June 17, 18741912 · page 98Read the page →
Read the text
tions of the committee, a substantial iron or steel bridge, near the site of the old one. In 1897 an agreement was made among the parties concerned, whereby the City of Springfield and the Town of Ludlow were to contribute equally to the construction and maintenance thereafter. The City of Springfield and the Ludlow Manufacturing Company were each to pay one half the expense of the approaches on the Springfield side, and the Company and the Town of Ludlow were to arrange mutually for those on the Ludlow side. The town appropriated $8,000 for its share of the
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The early settlers of Ludlow were almost entirely farmers, and there are indications and traditions that the native Indians, or perhaps other and earlier residents, of whom we have not even the legacj' of tradition, gave some attention to cultivation of the soil. The remains of rude implements of stone, probably designed for agricultural or domestic use, have been frequently found within the town limits, and it is certain that both before and after the settlement of Springfield by white men the present town
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.
Timeline
Ludlow, 1795 to 1985
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
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.
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
The Ludlow post office opened in 1821, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Ludlow rank for history?
Ludlow is more historic than 82% of U.S. towns, #213 of 283 in Massachusetts. 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.
What is on the National Register in Ludlow?
Two places: the Ludlow Center Historic District (listed 1988) and the Ludlow Village Historic District (1993).
How old are the homes in Ludlow?
19% of Ludlow’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.4 points), against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town; the median home was built in 1964.
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 (6), the National Register of Historic Places (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), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) 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.
1933
1937
1937
