Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 64% of U.S. towns. What drives it
Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1903 on, and the census since 1860.
The Black River post office opened in 1837, the earliest record of the town by name.
More historic than 64% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Black River is more historic than 64% of U.S. towns. 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 Black River’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 Black River’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Black River. 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 Black River.
From Wikipedia’s history of Black River.
The area was first settled around 1806 by the erection of a mill on the south side of the Black River. The village was previously called "Lockport", and grew to include both sides of the river as well as two small river islands.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Black River, cut from the printed page as they were published.
On the Black River Feeder, from Boonville, to and including the reservoir on the Black River, a distance of twelve miies, there are located, one guard-lock, three culverts, three wasteweirs, ten road bridges, two farm bridges, one tow-path bridge, one dam, one lock house, and six stop-gates. On the Black River, between High Falls and Carthage, a distance of forty-two and one-half miles, are located, one dam at Carthage, and two draw bridges, one at Illingworths, and the other at Beach's
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
tance from the business part of the village. This question of location was not settled without the most active efforts being made by Brownville to secure the site; but the balance of settlement was then south of Black River, and the level lands in the north part of the county were represented to the commissioners as swampy and incapable of settlement. Jacob Brown, finding it impossible to secure this advantage to his place, next endeavored to retain it, at least, north of Black River, and offered an
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
ment, was appointed, and continued till the lands were sold and accounts settled with the proprietor. On the 13th of April, 1846, the last of the lands were sold, it being an island near the village of Black River. Most of the settlers enumerated in the previous list came in and commenced improvements immediately.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
In 1839, he was transferred to the Black River Conference and appointed as principal of the Mexico Academy in Oswego County.* The next year, 1840, he was received into full connection by the Black River Conference, and re-appointed to the charge of the same school. In 1841, he entered into the pastoral work, and was appointed to the charge of Jordan station, in Onondaga County ; here he remained one year, and in 1842, he was appointed preacher in
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.
One decade in the archive so far: the 1860s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
No 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 Black River’s page.
Retake this view · +15Between 181 and 1,384 people in every census since 1860.
16 censuses, 1860–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Black River’s Wikipedia page.
Nobody well known was born in Black River itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
The Black River post office opened in 1837, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
Black River is more historic than 64% of U.S. towns. 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.
28% of Black River’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.4 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1972.
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 (1), Wikipedia, 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.
1864