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History · Margaretville

Margaretville dates to 1875, and 39% of its homes were built before 1940

2 places in town are on the National Register. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1901 on, and the census since 1880.

1875founded
2on the National Register
39%homes built before 1940
1old photo or paper
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answers

How Margaretville began

When was Margaretville founded?

1875

Margaretville dates its founding to 1875 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 418 in 18802020 census: 514151 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1804.The full story ↓

What stands out about Margaretville’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 1 old photo is in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19013 editions of the USGS map, 1901 to 1982. Watch Margaretville change.Boom and bustPeaked at 905 in 1950; 514 people lived here in 2020.Old housesHalf of Margaretville’s homes were built before 1955.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Margaretville’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Margaretville’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Margaretville on the map, 1901 to 1982

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Margaretville. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Margaretville on the 1901 USGS mapMargaretville on the 1945 USGS mapMargaretville on the 1982 USGS map1901Margaretville 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 Margaretville.

People over time

Margaretville, census by census

02004006008001,00018801900192019401960198020002020Peak: 905

Peaked at 905 in 1950; 514 people lived here in 2020.

15 censuses, 1880–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Margaretville’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Margaretville came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Margaretville.

Read it all →

In 1708, Queen Anne of England gave the Hardenburgh Patent to Johannes Hardenbergh and his associates. Chancellor Robert R. Livingston divided 221,748 acres (897.38 km2) of the land among his family. In 1763 Harmanus DuMond was deeded 75 acres (30 ha) "opposite Margaretville" by Chancellor Livingston. A 1765 map by Will Cockburn shows a road from Marbletown to Pakatakan (near present-day Margaretville and Arkville). In the 1770s, the original settlers paid "one hundred forty-nine pounds and 19 shillings" to American Indians for the land.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Margaretville in 1898

Passages that mention Margaretville, cut from the printed page as they were published.

Margaretville has three churches. lu 18o() the tirst Mcthoilist E]n8copal church was built, aud Rev. R. S. Hcott was the preacher and Rev. Richard Decker his assistant. lu 1880 the society erected a larger buildiug ou Church street. The present pastor is Rev.
Delaware County, New York1898 · page 514Read the page →
Read the text

Margaretville has three churches. lu 18o() the tirst Mcthoilist E]n8copal church was built, aud Rev. R. S. Hcott was the preacher and Rev. Richard Decker his assistant. lu 1880 the society erected a larger buildiug ou Church street. The present pastor is Rev.

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.

Timeline

Margaretville, 1820 to 1950

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1820In the archiveCharles Poldino
  3. 1875
    FoundingMargaretville is established
  4. 20th century
  5. 1901On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  6. 1950CensusPopulation peaks at 905
By decade

Margaretville, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1820s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1820s1 item
Charles Poldino1820Charles PoldinoDocument
Today10 recent
Galli-Curci Theater2008Galli-Curci TheaterEast Branch Delaware River at2008East Branch Delaware River atDowntown2008DowntownMargaretville, New York2006Margaretville, New YorkMargaretville, New York2006Margaretville, New YorkMargaretville, New York2006Margaretville, New YorkMargaretville, New York2006Margaretville, New YorkMargaretville, New York2006Margaretville, New YorkMargaretville, New York2006Margaretville, New YorkMargaretville, New York2006Margaretville, New York
Every building

Margaretville, building by building, 1903–1912

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.

Margaretville fire insurance map, 1903, sheet 11903Sheet 1 of 1
Edition
Sheets
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

On the National Register

2 historic places in Margaretville

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
2
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
2
each building in a district counts

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Questions about Margaretville’s history

What year was Margaretville founded?

In 1875, according to Wikidata. Margaretville’s post office opened in 1804, and the census of 1880 counted 418 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (11), Wikidata (1), Wikipedia, 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.