More historic than 8% of U.S. towns · #751 of 758 in New York. What drives it
Most of Chestnut Ridge was built recently: 6% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1967. Below: maps from 1910 on and the census since 1990.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Chestnut Ridge is more historic than 8% of U.S. towns, #751 of 758 in New York. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Chestnut Ridge’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 Chestnut Ridge’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.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikipedia alone; no second source gives 1986.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to C−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.5 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 Chestnut Ridge’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Chestnut Ridge. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1910Ramapo 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 Chestnut Ridge.
The story so far
Chestnut Ridge, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Chestnut Ridge yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Chestnut Ridge is a village in the town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of the state of New Jersey, east of Airmont, south of Spring Valley, and west of Nanuet. The population was 10,505 at the 2020 census. Chestnut Ridge was incorporated in 1986. Prior to 1986, Chestnut Ridge was an unincorporated area within the town of Ramapo often referred to as "South Spring Valley" (its fire district), as many postal addresses carried the Spring Valley designation. In April 2020, mayor Rosario Presti appointed Chaim Rose to fill a vacancy on the village board of trustees; Rose thus became the first Hasidic member of the board since the village was incorporated in 198…
Chestnut Ridge was established in 1986. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 7,916 to 10,505 (+33%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
In 1986, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1990 counted 7,517 people here.
How does Chestnut Ridge rank for history?
Chestnut Ridge is more historic than 8% of U.S. towns, #751 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.
How old are the homes in Chestnut Ridge?
6% of Chestnut Ridge’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.5 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1967.
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 (4), 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.
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