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History · Alexander

Alexander dates to 1812, and 34% of its homes were built before 1940

1 place in town is on the National Register. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1905 on, and the census since 1820.

1812founded
1on the National Register
34%homes built before 1940
1old photo or paper
5famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Alexander’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Alexander began

When was Alexander founded?

1812

Alexander dates its founding to 1812 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1820.

First census: 1,496 in 18202020 census: 518214 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1820.The full story ↓

What stands out about Alexander’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 1 old photo is in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19054 editions of the USGS map, 1905 to 1984. Watch Alexander change.Old housesHalf of Alexander’s homes were built before 1951.Deep rootsEstablished in 1812: 214 years of Alexander.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Alexander’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo1 archive item has no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewUnion infantry firing: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Alexander on the map, 1905 to 1984

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

Alexander on the 1905 USGS mapAlexander on the 1949 USGS mapAlexander on the 1951 USGS mapAlexander on the 1984 USGS map1905Attica 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 Alexander.

The story

How Alexander came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Alexander.

Read it all →

Alexander Rea purchased 28.1 acres (11.4 ha) in the town in 1802 for $56.20 and founded the village of Alexander. The next year he laid out a road, now Walnut Street and Route 98, north of the settlement. The town of Alexander was incorporated in 1812, from a part of the town of Batavia.

The town includes the Alexander Classical School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Alexander, 1812 to 1920

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1812
    FoundingAlexander is established
  3. 1835Born hereHorace E. Houghton is born here
  4. 1837Born hereAllen Manvel is born here
  5. 1840Born hereAda E. North is born here
  6. 20th century
  7. 1905On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  8. 1920Born hereAl Keller is born here
By decade

Alexander, decade by decade

Date unknown1 to date
Union infantry firingDate?Union infantry firing
Today4 recent
US20 West - Hills Near2018US20 West - Hills NearCase 1200 9-11-10 WNY GAS & STEAM ENGINE SHOW2010Case 1200 9-11-10 WNY GAS & STEAM ENGINE SHOWAlexander Classical School2010Alexander Classical SchoolReenactor confederates in camp2005Reenactor confederates in camp
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.

Union infantry firing
Retake this viewUnion infantry firing

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Alexander’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

1 historic place in Alexander

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

place listed
1
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
1
each building in a district counts

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

Alexander, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5001850190019502000Peak: 2,534

Between 1,287 and 2,534 people in every census since 1820.

21 censuses, 1820–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Alexander’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

5 famous people were born in Alexander

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
A
Al KellerRacecar driver · b. 1920
H
Horace E. HoughtonAmerican politician · b. 1835
Ada E. NorthFirst female State Librarian in the US · b. 1840
Allen ManvelAmerican businessman · b. 1837
S
Spin RoyAmerican football player · b. 1896

Questions about Alexander’s history

What year was Alexander founded?

In 1812, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Alexander’s post office opened in 1820, and the census of 1820 counted 1,496 people here.

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
Start a conversation
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 (5), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.