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History · Marksboro

Marksboro’s post office opened in 1820, and 35% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1888 on.

1820first post office
0on the National Register
35%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers

How Marksboro began

When was Marksboro founded?

1820

The Marksboro post office opened in 1820, the earliest record of the town by name.

2020 census: 186206 years
Founding year: the first Marksboro post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓

What stands out about Marksboro’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Marksboro are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18886 editions of the USGS map, 1888 to 1971. Watch Marksboro change.Deep rootsA post office since 1820: 206 years of Marksboro.Old housesHalf of Marksboro’s homes were built before 1955.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Marksboro’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Marksboro’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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On the map

Marksboro on the map, 1888 to 1971

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Marksboro. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Marksboro on the 1888 USGS mapMarksboro on the 1894 USGS mapMarksboro on the 1905 USGS mapMarksboro on the 1943 USGS mapMarksboro on the 1954 USGS mapMarksboro on the 1971 USGS map1888Hackettstown sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Marksboro.

The story

How Marksboro came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Marksboro.

Read it all →

Marksboro is named for Colonel Mark Thompson, who built and owned a grist mill on the Paulins Kill here before 1760. The first store was owned by William Shafer. An academy (school) was built here but was not successful, and was then used as a hotel as early as 1810. In 1814, the Marksboro Presbyterian Church was organized.

By 1882, the population had grown to 175. Marksboro had a post office, grist and lumber mill, and a "good local trade".

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Marksboro, decade by decade

Today4 recent
Paulinskill Valley Trail gate2017Paulinskill Valley Trail gatePaulins Kill rapids2017Paulins Kill rapidsMarksboro Grist Mill2017Marksboro Grist MillMarksboro Station site2011Marksboro Station site
Famous people

Famous people close to Marksboro

Nobody well known was born in Marksboro itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Janeane GarofaloAmerican comedian and actress · b. 1964
Jimmi SimpsonAmerican film and television actor · b. 1975
Eric MilleganAmerican actor · b. 1974
Chris WyldeAmerican actor · b. 1976
Ardolph L. KlineAmerican politician · b. 1858
John W. GriggsAmerican politician · b. 1849
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Frelinghuysen Township2 historic placesAHardwick Township2 historic placesA−

Questions about Marksboro’s history

What year was Marksboro founded?

The Marksboro post office opened in 1820, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

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 (4), Wikipedia and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.