Pennsville Township dates to 1721, and 16% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 89% of U.S. towns · #67 of 468 in New Jersey. What drives it
3 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 12 buildings. Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1948 on, and the census since 1810.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1826.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Pennsville Township’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Pennsville Township is more historic than 89% of U.S. towns, #67 of 468 in New Jersey. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Pennsville Township’s overall grade.
New Jersey towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New Jersey town has 3.7 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Pennsville Township’s 10.2 sits above most of its state (69% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 13 historic buildings outnumber those of 77% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1721.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.7 points).
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 Pennsville Township’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
At the time of the European settlements in America in the 1600s, the Lenni Lenape Tribe called Unilachtigo occupied the area, calling it "Hoppemense." In 1638 Sweden established a trading fort in Wilmington, and called it Fort Christina. Only 24 Swedish Soldiers came on the first expedition. Their orders were to buy land, build a fort and establish trade on the West side of the Delaware River. There were no colonists at Fort Christina in 1638. It wasn't until 1641 that the Swedes purchased land on the east side of the Delaware River. A May 1671 Census of the Delaware by Walter Wharton documents Swedes and Finns living on the East side of the Delaware River in what is known as Pennsville today.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings 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 Pennsville Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1948Wilmington South sheet · 1:24,000
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Pennsville Township.
Then & now
Stand where they stood
No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.
Retake this view1940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - New Jersey - Salem County - ED 17-6, ED 17-7, ED 17-8, ED 17-9, ED 17-10, 1850
Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Pennsville Township’s page.
In 1721, according to Wikidata. Pennsville Township’s post office opened in 1826, and the census of 1810 counted 1,163 people here.
How does Pennsville Township rank for history?
Pennsville Township is more historic than 89% of U.S. towns, #67 of 468 in New Jersey. 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 Pennsville Township?
Three places: the Finn's Point Rear Range Light (listed 1978), the Fort Mott and Finns Point National Cemetery District (1978) and the William and Margaret Mecum House (2018).
How old are the homes in Pennsville Township?
16% of Pennsville Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.7 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1962.
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 (9), Wikidata (3), the National Register of Historic Places (3), 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) 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.
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