Middlefield dates to 1780, and 38% of its homes were built before 1940
2 places in town are on the National Register, among them the Western Railroad Stone Arch Bridges and Chester Factory Village Depot, a National Historic Landmark, and two historic districts with 37 buildings between them.
How Middlefield began
When was Middlefield founded?
Middlefield dates its founding to 1780 (Wikidata). Its post office opened in 1812.
2 listings protect 37 historic buildings
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. One is a National Historic Landmark, the highest tier.
Architectural styles listings
★ Landmark
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
2 famous people were born in Middlefield
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds
Middlefield’s post office has been open since 1812. Another post office, Bancroft, 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).
History across the town line
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
Questions about Middlefield’s history
What year was Middlefield founded?
In 1780, according to Wikidata. Middlefield’s post office opened in 1812.
What is on the National Register in Middlefield?
Two places: the Western Railroad Stone Arch Bridges and Chester Factory Village Depot and the Middlefield Center Historic District (2012).
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). How TownRatings grades history →
From the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, 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.