Bainbridge dates to 1788, and 35% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 96% of U.S. towns · #127 of 758 in New York. What drives it
2 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 93 buildings. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1891 on, and the census since 1820.
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1815.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Bainbridge’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Bainbridge is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #127 of 758 in New York. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its age lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Bainbridge’s overall grade.
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 Bainbridge’s 318 sits above most of its state (87% of New York towns have fewer) while its 96 historic buildings outnumber those of 89% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikipedia alone; no second source gives 1788.
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 (±6.8 points).
Founding year: Wikipedia (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 Bainbridge’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Bainbridge was originally settled by Native Americans of the Iroquois nations. During the American Revolution, these tribes became allies of the British and commenced raids on American settlements. In 1779, George Washington ordered the Sullivan Expedition into what is today Upstate New York. When General James Clinton reached the Bainbridge area, the tribes had fled to sanctuary in Upper Canada. Clinton's forces destroyed their homes and crops, including their winter stores.
The town was first settled by European Americans circa 1788, first by a group called the "Vermont Sufferers". These were people from land in Eastern New York, who had lost their claims due to land sales by Vermont for the same claims.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Bainbridge. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1915Unadilla 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 Bainbridge.
Every building
Bainbridge, building by building, 1891–1912
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1788, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Bainbridge’s post office opened in 1815, and the census of 1820 counted 2,290 people here.
How does Bainbridge rank for history?
Bainbridge is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #127 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.
What is on the National Register in Bainbridge?
Two places: the Bainbridge Historic District (listed 1982) and the Charles C. Hovey House and Strong Leather Company Mill (1996).
How old are the homes in Bainbridge?
35% of Bainbridge’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.8 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1956.
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 (12), the National Register of Historic Places (2), 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), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
2023
2023
2023
2018
2018
2018
2018
2015
2015
2009
2009
