Credit River was first counted by the census in 1860
More historic than 23% of U.S. towns · #199 of 273 in Minnesota. What drives it
Most of Credit River was built recently: 7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1988. Below: maps from 1957 on and the census since 1860.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Credit River is more historic than 23% of U.S. towns, #199 of 273 in Minnesota. Its age holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Credit River’s overall grade.
Minnesota towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Minnesota town has 2.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Credit River’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (23% of Minnesota towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to C. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.9 points).
Founding year: the first census (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 Credit River’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The former Credit River Township was organized in 1858. The Credit River flows northward through the city. In 2021, it was announced that the township would incorporate as the City of Credit River, following an administrative judge's ruling allowing the incorporation to move forward. The ascension of Credit River to incorporated city status is the first in Minnesota since 2015. Credit River incorporated as a city on May 11, 2021.
The Credit River post office opened in 1860, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Credit River rank for history?
Credit River is more historic than 23% of U.S. towns, #199 of 273 in Minnesota. 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.
How old are the homes in Credit River?
7% of Credit River’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.9 points), against a typical 8.1% for a Minnesota town; the median home was built in 1988.
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 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) 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.
