Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1917 on and the census since 1880.
Holt dates its founding to 1867 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.
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 Holt’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of Holt.
Holt was platted in 1867. The city was named for Jeremiah Abel Holt (1811–1886), who donated the land in 1837 and who was one of the first settlers in the area, a native of Orange County, North Carolina.
Holt has the distinction of holding the world record for the fastest accumulation of rainfall. On June 22, 1947, Holt received 12 inches (300 mm) of rain in 42 minutes.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Holt, cut from the printed page as they were published.
As no newspaper was published in Holt County before 1857, it is difficult to get at the facts as to politics in Holt County prior to that date to ascertain who ran for offices and how candidates were nominated. In truth, the geographical position of Holt County, as well as the character of its population, made that system of compromising called by the radicals of all parties, " carrying water on bdth shoulders," and despised by them, an indispensable condition to success. The
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
site on two different quarters, has already been mentioned. Probably in view of this perplexity it was ordered by that body, at their April term, 1842, that all persons who had bought lots in the town of Oregon, the county seat of Holt County, be allowed the privilege to relinquish said lots to the county of Holt, providing said relinquishment be made by May 14, 1842, and that the commissioner advertise this order. The records show that several purchasers availed themselves of the benefit of this order.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
already been mentioned. Probably in view of this perplexity it was ordered by that body, at their April term, 1842, that all persons who had bought lots in the town of Oregon, the county seat of Holt County, be allowed the privilege to relinquish said lots to the County of Holt, providing said relinquishment be made by May 14, 1842, and that the commissioner advertise this order. The records show that several purchasers availed themselves of the benefit of this order.
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 SurveyEvery edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Holt. 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 Holt.
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 sheet.
1917Sheet 1 of 1Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Grew from 162 people in 1880 to 471 in 2020.
15 censuses, 1880–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Holt’s Wikipedia page.
Nobody well known was born in Holt itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
In 1867, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Holt’s post office opened in 1869, and the census of 1880 counted 162 people here.
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 (1), Wikipedia, 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, 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.
2004
