Westminster dates to 1764, and 18% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 96% of U.S. towns · #8 of 261 in Maryland. What drives it
13 places in town are on the National Register, among them three historic districts with 1,258 buildings between them. Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1887 on, and the census since 1850.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Westminster is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #8 of 261 in Maryland. 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 Westminster’s overall grade.
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 Westminster’s 635 sits above most of its state (91% of Maryland towns have fewer) while its 1,299 historic buildings outnumber those of 99% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1764.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.4 points).
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 →
What stands out about Westminster’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
William Winchester (1706-1790) purchased approximately 167 acres of land in the area in 1754, which became known as White's Level and later the town of Winchester. In 1768, the Maryland General Assembly changed the name of the town to Westminster to avoid confusion with Winchester, Virginia.
On June 28, 1863, the Civil War skirmish of Corbit's Charge was fought in the streets of Westminster, when two companies of Delaware cavalry attacked a much larger Confederate force under General J. E. B. Stuart. This action delayed Stuart's forces from their joining the Battle of Gettysburg.
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.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Westminster. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1944Westminster sheet · 1:31,680
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Westminster.
Every building
Westminster, building by building, 1887–1918
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.
In 1764, according to Wikidata. the census of 1850 counted 884 people here.
How does Westminster rank for history?
Westminster is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #8 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.
What is on the National Register in Westminster?
13 listings: 10 buildings, among them the Farm Content (listed 1975, the first), and 3 historic districts, the Western Maryland College Historic District, the Westminster Historic District and the Roop's Mill, with 1,258 contributing buildings. 1,299 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Westminster?
18% of Westminster’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.4 points), against a typical 3.3% for a Maryland town; the median home was built in 1982.
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 (11), the Library of Congress (1), the National Register of Historic Places (13), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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