Elbridge’s post office opened in 1815, and 28% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 94% of U.S. towns · #178 of 758 in New York. What drives it
2 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 136 buildings between them. Below: 3 old photos and papers, maps from 1900 on, and the census since 1830.
The Elbridge post office opened in 1815, the earliest record of the town by name. Wikidata gives 1829. Two smaller post offices, Hart Lot (1850) and Halfway (1868), opened inside today’s town and later closed.
First census: 3,357 in 18302020 census: 5,476211 years
How historic is Elbridge?
A
More historic than 94% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
Founding year: the first Elbridge post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Wikidata: 1829.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Elbridge’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Elbridge is more historic than 94% of U.S. towns, #178 of 758 in New York. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its age lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Elbridge’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 Elbridge’s 250 sits above most of its state (85% of New York towns have fewer) while its 136 historic buildings outnumber those of 91% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±5.5 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date; Wikidata’s 1829 falls in the same era, so the grade doesn’t depend on which one is used.
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 →
What stands out about Elbridge’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Elbridge was part of Military Township No. 5 (Camillus) created following the American Revolution and given to veterans in lieu of payment for service during the War for Independence. This tract comprised most of present-day Camillus and all of Van Buren and Marcellus in what is now the County of Onondaga in Central New York's Finger Lakes Region. The Town of Elbridge was formed in 1829 from the Town of Camillus.
The Town of Elbridge includes two incorporated villages: the Village of Elbridge (incorporated in 1848) and the Village of Jordan (incorporated in 1835).
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
The Elbridge post office opened in 1815, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1829.
How does Elbridge rank for history?
Elbridge is more historic than 94% of U.S. towns, #178 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 Elbridge?
Two places: the Jordan Village Historic District (listed 1983) and the Elbridge Village Historic District (2002).
How old are the homes in Elbridge?
28% of Elbridge’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.5 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1973.
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 (7), 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) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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