Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1948 on and the census since 1920.
New Rockford Township dates its founding to 1883 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1920.
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 New Rockford Township’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of New Rockford Township.
New Rockford was founded in 1883, when the Northern Pacific Railway arrived in the area.
In 1915, residents mounted a challenge to have the state capital relocated from Bismarck to New Rockford. This did not succeed, leaving Bismarck the capital.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of New Rockford Township. 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 New Rockford Township.
Between 1,361 and 2,195 people in every census since 1920.
11 censuses, 1920–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on New Rockford Township’s Wikipedia page.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1883, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1920 counted 2,111 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 Wikidata (2), 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.
