Warrenton dates to 1830, and 2 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 63% of U.S. towns · #89 of 247 in Missouri. What drives it
Most of Warrenton was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 2000. Below: maps from 1909 on and the census since 1860.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1836.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Warrenton’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Warrenton is more historic than 63% of U.S. towns, #89 of 247 in Missouri. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
B
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Warrenton’s overall grade.
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 Warrenton’s 4.4 sits near the middle of its state (62% of Missouri towns have fewer) while its 4 historic buildings outnumber those of 68% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to A−. The pre-1940 share (±2.3 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1830.
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 →
What stands out about Warrenton’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Warrenton had its start in the 1830s as a planned community which was to hold the county seat. The community took its name from Warren County. The United States Postal Service Post Office in Warrenton has been in operation since 1836.
The Ernst Schowengerdt House and Warren County Courthouse and Circuit Court Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1830, according to Wikidata. Warrenton’s post office opened in 1836, and the census of 1860 counted 480 people here.
How does Warrenton rank for history?
Warrenton is more historic than 63% of U.S. towns, #89 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.
What is on the National Register in Warrenton?
Two places: the Ernst Schowengerdt House (listed 1980) and the Warren County Courthouse and Circuit Court Building (1972).
How old are the homes in Warrenton?
5% of Warrenton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.3 points), against a typical 8.4% for a Missouri town; the median home was built in 2000.
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), Wikidata (1), 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 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.
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