Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: old-book passages.
The Milan post office opened in 1879, the earliest record of the town by name.
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 Milan’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of Milan.
Milan was platted in 1880, and incorporated in 1893. The city was named after Milan, Italy. A post office called Milan has been in operation since 1879.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Milan, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Kallstrom, Ida, widow of the late Henning Grundstad, Emma, wife of Christian Jorgenson, Ella, wife of Henry §. Blom, who lives in Milan, Henry, now a resident of Canada, Isaac, who owns part of the old Einerson farm, and Oscar, a resident near Milan. Mr. Einerson was a genial personality, happiest when he was busiest. He was one of the charter members of the Immanuel church in Tunsberg and served his church as “klokker” for a great many years. He also served as Norwegian parochial teacher and was al-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
way, bought 40 acres of land in section two from Lars S. Saterlie and laid out a townsite. Lots in the new Minnesota metropolis were readily sold and business houses established. ‘The first merchant in the new town was A. Anderson, of Milan, who established a dry goods and grocery store. Oscar Johnson built and established a hardware store, Ed. Gunderson a meat market and grocery store combined, John M. Torgerson a restaurant, etc., ete. A bank was also established, the incorporators being John Torgerson, John HI.
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.
The Milan post office opened in 1879, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
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). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, 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.
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