Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 26% of U.S. towns · #732 of 758 in New York. What drives it
Below: maps from 1892 on and the census since 1900.
The Ardsley post office opened in 1883, the earliest record of the town by name.
More historic than 26% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Ardsley is more historic than 26% of U.S. towns, #732 of 758 in New York. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
New York towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New York town has 12.3 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Ardsley’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (10% of New York towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: the first post office (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 Ardsley’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Ardsley. 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 Ardsley.
From Wikipedia’s history of Ardsley.
Prior to European settlement Ardsley and its surrounding area was inhabited by the Wickquasgeck tribe, a band of the Wappinger, related to the Lenape (Delaware) tribes which dominated lower New York state and New Jersey.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Ardsley, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Nine new villages have been incorporated during the present decade: Pelham Manor and Larchmont in 1801, Mamaroneck in 1805, Pelham, North Pelham, and Ardsley in 1896, Pleasantville in 1897, and Bronxville and Croton in 1898. This volume is issued before the appearance of the census returns of 1000 for Westchester County proper. J In 1808, however, local enumerations were made in the villages of the couniy, with the followingresults in the incorporated places : ?
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
William C. Lawrence acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Ardsley, and spent one year in the high school of Yonkers. On laying aside his text-books he entered his father's employ, was his assistant for several years, and when the latter retired from business became his successor as proprietor of the leading meat market in Dobbs Ferry. He has also established a market at Ardsley, and is now enjoying a very large and constantly increasing business. He has great energy, and his well directed and honorable efforts have brought to him a handsome competence. His
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Grew from 404 people in 1900 to 5,079 in 2020, more than tenfold.
13 censuses, 1900–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Ardsley’s Wikipedia page.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
The Ardsley post office opened in 1883, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
Ardsley is more historic than 26% of U.S. towns, #732 of 758 in New York. 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.
11% of Ardsley’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.7 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1958.
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 (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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