Half of Port Washington North’s homes were built after 1969
More historic than 12% of U.S. towns · #745 of 758 in New York. What drives it
Most of Port Washington North was built recently: 4% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1969. Below: maps from 1897 on and the census since 1940.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Port Washington North is more historic than 12% of U.S. towns, #745 of 758 in New York. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
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HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Port Washington North’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 Port Washington North’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.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.0 points).
Founding year: our sources. 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 Port Washington North’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 Port Washington North. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1897Oyster Bay 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 Port Washington North.
The story
How Port Washington North came to be
From Wikipedia’s history of Port Washington North.
The area now consisting of the Port Washington North was initially settled by European colonists – mainly Dutchmen and Englishmen – in 1644, after they purchased land from the people of the Matinecock Nation.
Port Washington North incorporated on May 16, 1932, after residents of the area unanimously voted in favor of incorporating that year. In doing so, it became the youngest village in North Hempstead – a title it retains. Its first Mayor, John Cocks, led the movement to incorporate; he was elected on August 2, 1932.
Port Washington North is more historic than 12% of U.S. towns, #745 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 Port Washington North?
4% of Port Washington North’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.0 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1969.
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 (6), Wikipedia, 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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