Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 88% of U.S. towns · #295 of 758 in New York. What drives it
2 places in town are on the National Register. Below: 3 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1860.
Fayetteville dates its founding to 1792 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1860.
More historic than 88% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Fayetteville is more historic than 88% of U.S. towns, #295 of 758 in New York. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings 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 Fayetteville’s 97.3 sits above most of its state (75% of New York towns have fewer) while its 41 historic buildings outnumber those of 84% of U.S. towns.
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 →
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 Fayetteville’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 2Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Born hereRose Cleveland is born here
In the archiveMerrill-soule 1900 fayettev
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
Born hereBuddy Boeheim is born hereFrom Wikipedia’s history of Fayetteville.
Fayetteville was first settled in 1792, later officially incorporated in 1844.
The Charles Estabrook Mansion, Genesee Street Hill-Limestone Plaza Historic District, and Levi Snell House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Fayetteville, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The magnificent water-power of Fayetteville is obtained from what is known as the Ledyard Dyke and from Bishop Brook. The Ledyard Dyke commences a little north of the Village of Manlius on Limestone Creek, and runs thence to Fayetteville where it empties into the creek again, giving a fall in the village of about one hundred feet. The present owners are David Collin, Jr., R. C. Hatch,
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
ferment, he has quite frequently been honored with the most important town offices. He has been one of the most public-spirited men that the village of Fayetteville has ever had, being one of the first movers in the erection of the first church and academy in the village. The Water-works Company is indebted to Mr. Collin in a great measure for its. existence.
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 1900s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
2026Gramlich Bird Preserve
2016North Carolina National Guard
2016Limestone Creek, Town of Manlius, New York
2016Limestone Creek Park
2015Old Erie Canal aqueduct at Limestone Creek
2015Limestone Creek at the Old Erie Canal
2014Shirt World & Greek Shop, T-Shirts of Doom (2014)
2011Snell house
2011Fayetteville village hall
2011Fayetteville historic
2011Estabrook mansion
2007Fayetteville Manlius Varsity LetterDocument
2006Welcoming sign for the village of
2006Town Center in the village of
2006FayettevilletownePCEvery edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Fayetteville. 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 Fayetteville.
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 Fayetteville’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.
Between 1,281 and 4,996 people in every census since 1860.
17 censuses, 1860–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Fayetteville’s Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
In 1792, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Fayetteville’s post office opened in 1818, and the census of 1860 counted 1,281 people here.
Fayetteville is more historic than 88% of U.S. towns, #295 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 Fayetteville’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.2 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1961.
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 (18), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) 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.
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