Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
South Lyon dates its founding to 1832 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.
More historic than 39% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, South Lyon is more historic than 39% of U.S. towns, #483 of 701 in Michigan. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
Few Michigan towns list much on the Register (a typical Michigan town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so South Lyon’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (32% of Michigan towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% 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 South Lyon’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of South Lyon. 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 South Lyon.
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.
1893Sheet 1 of 2Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
From Wikipedia’s history of South Lyon.
South Lyon was founded in 1832 and was called Thompson's Corners. In the same year, the surrounding township was named Lyon after Lucius Lyon, a member of the state legislature. The village was given a name for its location within the township. South Lyon was incorporated as a village in 1873 and as a city in 1930.
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 hereAnita Cochran is born here
2022SLHS and SLEHS faceoff 102822
2016South Lyon Michigan oil well
2013South Lyon High School Shoe Tree, Spencer Road
2013Memorial to War Veterans
2012Washburn School, (1907), McHattie Park
2012South Lyon Elevator Historic Site
2012Little Village Chapel, (1930), McHattie Park
2012Ice Fishing on Green Oak Lake, Silverside Road, Green…
2012First Baptist Church, 60820 Marjorie Ann Street
2012Fellowship Church, 22200 Pontiac Trail
2011Tubby's grilled submarines store
2011South Lyon Michigan City and School Administratrion B…
2011South Lyon High School Michigan
2010South Lyon Hotel
2010South Lyon East High School Michigan
2010Downtown South Lyon Pontiac Trail
2010Downtown South Lyon Pontiac Trail & LafayetteGrew from 418 people in 1880 to 11,746 in 2020, more than tenfold.
15 censuses, 1880–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on South Lyon’s Wikipedia page.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1832, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. South Lyon’s post office opened in 1848, and the census of 1880 counted 418 people here.
South Lyon is more historic than 39% of U.S. towns, #483 of 701 in Michigan. 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.
4% of South Lyon’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.1 points), against a typical 12% for a Michigan town; the median home was built in 1991.
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 (17), 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 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.
