Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Among the newest of U.S. towns. What drives it
Most of Diamondhead was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1997. Below: maps from 1956 on and the census since 1980.
Diamondhead dates its founding to 2012 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1980.
Among the newest of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Diamondhead is among the newest of U.S. towns. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
Mississippi towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Mississippi town has 71.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Diamondhead’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (19% of Mississippi towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikipedia (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 Diamondhead’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of Diamondhead.
On October 25, 1961, NASA announced the formation of the Mississippi Test Facility, now the John C. Stennis Space Center. The center would be located in an area bordering the Pearl River in Hancock County. During and following the construction of the facility, an influx of government workers, contractors, and their families moved into the area.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Diamondhead. 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 Diamondhead.
Grew from 1,011 people in 1980 to 9,529 in 2020, 9 times over.
5 censuses, 1980–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Diamondhead’s Wikipedia page.
Nobody well known was born in Diamondhead itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 2012, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1980 counted 1,011 people here.
Diamondhead is among the newest of U.S. towns. 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.
0.0% of Diamondhead’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 4.5% for a Mississippi town; the median home was built in 1997.
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 (3), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) 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.
2024
2011
2008
