Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 55% of U.S. towns · #109 of 247 in Missouri. What drives it
Its Register listings are the Bates County Courthouse and the Palace Hotel. Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1870.
Butler dates its founding to 1852 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1870.
More historic than 55% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Butler is more historic than 55% of U.S. towns, #109 of 247 in Missouri. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
Missouri towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Missouri town has 2.4 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Butler’s 4.3 sits near the middle of its state (61% of Missouri towns have fewer) while its 2 listings outnumber those of 60% 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 first neighbors to add old photos shape how Butler’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Butler. 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 Butler.
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.
1885Sheet 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 Butler.
When laid out in April 1852, Butler was a short distance from its modern location, with John C. Kennett being recognized as the first settler to build a home. The plat for Butler was filed in August, 1853 and consisted of five lots on fifty-five acres of donated land. The first county seat for Bates County was Papinville.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Butler, cut from the printed page as they were published.
nected for 34 section corner l^etween sections 22 and 23 ; reset a sandstone; thence north with the line dividing sections 22 and 23 ; 13.50 chains or 56 poles and plant a sandstone for N. E. corner to the tract of land upon which a portion of the town of Butler is located ; then from a point which is 30 feet south and 60 feet west from the last described corner, proceed to lay off the town of Butler for the number and size of the blocks and lots.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
An agreement had been made with the Missouri Pacific Railway Company whereby the Bates County Town Company was to have the privilege of locating towns and stations in return for the grant of right-ofway through Bates county. The particular depot of Butler was to be located not less than one mile from the court house and the Adrian Town Company purchased land in this vicinity and platted it and the Missouri Pacific railroad and the town of /\drian, ten miles away, were being built simultaneously in Bates county. Squire Mahan recalls that
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
"Washington Pakk. Virginia: I came to Bates County in the spring of 1858. There were, at tbat.time, twelve or fifteen houses in Butler, but it improved fast until the commencement of the war. There was a grist mill about three miles east of Butler; also one at West Point: and a saw mill
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.
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 hereGeorge H. Christopher is born here
Born hereRobert A. Heinlein is born here
Born hereWesley Bolin is born here
In the archiveStandard atlas of Bates County, Missouri. Postcard from US. Department of Agriculture on …
Born hereCharles O'Rear is born hereOne decade in the archive so far: the 1920s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Grew from 1,064 people in 1870 to 4,220 in 2020, 3 times over.
16 censuses, 1870–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Butler’s Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
In 1852, according to Wikidata. the census of 1870 counted 1,064 people here.
Butler is more historic than 55% of U.S. towns, #109 of 247 in Missouri. 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.
Two places: the Bates County Courthouse (listed 2001) and the Palace Hotel (2002).
16% of Butler’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.0 points), against a typical 8.4% for a Missouri town; the median home was built in 1965.
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 (4), the National Register of Historic Places (2), 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, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) 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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