Oswegatchie dates to 1802, and 24% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 77% of U.S. towns · #463 of 758 in New York. What drives it
Its Register listings are the U.S. Post Office and the Pickens Hall. Its Register listings are the U.S. Post Office and the Pickens Hall. Below: 12 old photos and papers, maps from 1904 on, and the census since 1820.
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1828.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Oswegatchie’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Oswegatchie is more historic than 77% of U.S. towns, #463 of 758 in New York. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Oswegatchie’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 Oswegatchie’s 5.0 sits below most of its state (35% of New York towns have fewer) while its 2 listings outnumber those of 60% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikipedia alone; no second source gives 1802.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B to A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±6.5 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 Oswegatchie’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds
Two other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.
Heuvel
1828–1831
Heuvelton
1831–today
Galilee
1892–1901
18201920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
GalileeHeuveltonLost VillageMorley Mobile Home Park
Gone or out of use
C Way Drive-InlocaleMater Dei CollegeschoolSchool Number 1schoolSchool Number 10schoolSchool Number 11schoolSchool Number 12schoolSchool Number 14schoolSchool Number 15schoolSchool Number 16schoolSchool Number 17schoolSchool Number 18schoolSchool Number 19schoolSchool Number 2schoolSchool Number 20schoolSchool Number 3schoolSchool Number 4schoolSchool Number 6schoolSchool Number 7school
10cemeteries and burying grounds inside Oswegatchie
The area was first explored by French missionaries during the 17th century. The town was founded in 1802 from the town of Lisbon upon the formation of the county. After the end of the French and Indian War, the British renamed the former French community of La Gallette as Oswegatchie, the name of the local native tribe. After the end of the American Revolution, the community became Ogdensburg, named for Samuel Ogden, who was a member of a group of land speculators and developers who purchased a large tract of land in the region. During the War of 1812 Ogdensburg and much of the town was captured by British forces. In 1817, the community of Ogdensburg set itself apart from the town by incorporating as a village, and became the City of Ogdensburg in 1868. The Town of Morristown was formed from the western part of Oswegatchie in 1821. Another part was used to make part of the Town of De P…
In 1802, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Oswegatchie’s post office opened in 1828, and the census of 1820 counted 1,661 people here.
How does Oswegatchie rank for history?
Oswegatchie is more historic than 77% of U.S. towns, #463 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 Oswegatchie?
Two places: the U.S. Post Office (listed 1977) and the Pickens Hall (2004).
How old are the homes in Oswegatchie?
24% of Oswegatchie’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.5 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1977.
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 (11), the Library of Congress (1), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, 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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