Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 92% of U.S. towns · #18 of 261 in Maryland. What drives it
3 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 228 buildings between them. Below: 6 old photos and papers, maps from 1911 on, and the census since 1850.
Emmitsburg dates its founding to 1785 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1850.
More historic than 92% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Emmitsburg is more historic than 92% of U.S. towns, #18 of 261 in Maryland. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
Few Maryland towns list much on the Register (a typical Maryland town has 0.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Emmitsburg’s 805 sits above most of its state (95% of Maryland towns have fewer) while its 229 historic buildings outnumber those of 94% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikidata (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 country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Emmitsburg. 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 Emmitsburg.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
In the archiveDistant view of Emmettsburg [sic], scene of the rebel horse raid; Union soldiers followin…
In the archiveSt. Joseph's Academy near Emmitsburg, Md
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyFrom Wikipedia’s history of Emmitsburg.
Emmitsburg was named for its founder, William Emmit, in 1785. However, a settlement (named first "Silver Fancy" and later "Poplar Fields") preceded the town, particularly since British authorities restricted colonists' expansion during and after the French and Indian War.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Emmitsburg, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Cooper, the money to purchase ground for this institution was supplied. In deciding the locality Mr. Dubourg was favorable to Baltimore City. Mr. Cooper insisted upon the selection of Emmitsburg, Md„ as a more convenient situation, as its physical and moral advantages were preferable to Baltimore. Then the priest (Dubourg) replied: "Be it Emmitsburg." The vicinity of Emmitsburg having been selected for the location of the sisterhood projected by Mrs.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Samuel Einmit after laying out the town August 12th, 1785, deeded to his son William, 35 acres of land as follows: Samuel Emmit to his son William, part of Carrolsburg, wherein the lots of a new town of Emmitsburg are laid out. Excepting five lots, to wit: No. i to Samuel Emmit'swife; No. 17 to son Josiah; No. 16 to daughter Mary ; No. 4 to son Abraham James; No. 10 to grandchild Wm.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
We went as far as Littlestown (via Hanover) by railroad, and having partaken of a savory meal, we proceeded per stage to Emmitsburg, and were thence transported to Graceham in two private conveyances which were in waiting for us. “During the latter stage of our journey I learned from one of the Graceham brethren that for the last two weeks an unusual degree of interest in the subject of religion had prevailed among the community around Graceham. Greatly encouraged by this
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.
2 decades in the archive, from the 1860s to the 1870s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.
![Distant view of Emmettsburg [sic], scene of the rebel horse raid; Union soldiers following up the rebel army](https://images.townratings.com/story/7451/59158a09c53e3e47e595-l.jpg)
Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Emmitsburg’s page.
Retake this view · +15Between 706 and 2,814 people in every census since 1850.
17 censuses, 1850–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Emmitsburg’s Wikipedia page.
Emmitsburg’s post office has been open since 1800.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.
In 1785, according to Wikidata. Emmitsburg’s post office opened in 1800, and the census of 1850 counted 812 people here.
Emmitsburg is more historic than 92% of U.S. towns, #18 of 261 in Maryland. 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.
Three places: the St. Joseph's College and Mother Seton Shrine (listed 1976), the St. Euphemia's School and Sisters' House (1984) and the Emmitsburg Historic District (2024).
19% of Emmitsburg’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±8.5 points), against a typical 3.3% for a Maryland town; the median home was built in 1986.
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 (1), the Library of Congress (5), the National Register of Historic Places (3), 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 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.
1861
1863
1863![Rebel cavalry driving captured horses through, while still smoking Emmettsburgh [sic]](https://images.townratings.com/story/7451/940f15151ec2f55d3c2e-s.jpg)
1863