Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 86% of U.S. towns · #331 of 758 in New York. What drives it
2 places in town are on the National Register. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1840.
Baldwinsville dates its founding to 1798 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1840.
More historic than 86% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Baldwinsville is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #331 of 758 in New York. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
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 Baldwinsville’s 42.8 sits above most of its state (66% of New York towns have fewer) while its 33 historic buildings outnumber those of 82% of U.S. towns.
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 →
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 Baldwinsville’s history is told.
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.
1885Sheet 1 of 4Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Baldwinsville. 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 Baldwinsville.
From Wikipedia’s history of Baldwinsville.
The village is named after Jonas Baldwin, who built a dam across the Seneca River to generate energy and a private canal to maintain the integrity of the water highway. It was incorporated in 1848 as the Village of Baldwinsville. Before this, the community was known by several other names, including McHarrie's Rifts.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Born hereJames Clark Haynes is born here
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
In the archiveFuller and Bliss Tobacco Warehouse, 33 East Genesee Street
Born hereChristine Hallquist is born here
Born hereBoo Nieves is born hereOne decade in the archive so far: the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
2018NY370 East - Onondaga County Sign
2018NY370 East - Jct NY31 Signs
2017B battery monument
2014"The Old Yard" NYS Historical Marker 02
2014"The Old Yard" NYS Historical Marker 01
2014"Log Cabin Site"
2009NY 631 north near NY 370
2009NY 48 south in
2009NY 370 west at NY 631
2008Baldwinsville Village Hall
2006BaldwinsvilleLNo then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.
Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Baldwinsville’s page.
Retake this view · +15The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Grew from 1,000 people in 1840 to 7,898 in 2020, 7 times over.
19 censuses, 1840–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Baldwinsville’s Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1798, according to Wikidata. Baldwinsville’s post office opened in 1815, and the census of 1840 counted 1,000 people here.
Baldwinsville is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #331 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.
21% of Baldwinsville’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.5 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1975.
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 (12), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) 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.
