Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1800.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Unadilla’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Unadilla is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. All 3 inputs put Unadilla near the top nationally; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Unadilla’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 Unadilla’s 1,029 sits above most of its state (96% of New York towns have fewer) while its 146 historic buildings outnumber those of 91% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1770.
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 (±11.4 points).
Founding year: Wikidata (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 Unadilla’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first settlement took place circa 1770 in the area of Sidney (in adjacent Delaware County), followed by Unadilla. Both Sidney and Unadilla were destroyed during the American Revolution and were re-established after the war. The town was formed from part of the Town of Otsego in 1792. Later the size of the town was reduced by the formation of new towns: Butternuts, Milford, and Oneonta in 1796; Otego in 1822; and an addition to Butternuts in 1857. In 1827, the community of Unadilla set itself off from the town by incorporating as a village.
The Unadilla Waterworks, Russ-Johnsen Site, and Andrew Mann Inn are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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.
Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
From the old history books
What they wrote about Unadilla, 1878–1892
Passages that mention Unadilla, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Otsego County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers1878 · page 337Read the page →
Read the text
Less than half a century has came and gone since the hills which look down upon the pleasant village of Unadilla were covered with a forest through which the deer roamed at will, and slaked its thirst along the banks of the classic Susquehanna. So numerous were they that Unadilla annually for a long period became the rendezvous of the hunters, which, ill coiisnqnoiion of tho sticocsa that nlwiiya attended the chase, the hospitality of the " grand sachems," and the
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Grand Army of the Republic. History of the order in the U. S. by counties. Otsego County posts, Department of New York, including a complete record of soldiers surviving and buried in the county, with company and regiment ... Compiled by D. A. Ellis1892Read the page →
Read the text
1865, when he rejoined his regiment at Munson Hill, Alexandria ; was promoted to corporal and detailed as clerk in the adjutant's office. Was mustered out of service at Munson Hill, July 30, 1865. He returned to Unadilla, and in 1870 went into the mercantile business at Wells Bridge; was Postmaster during Cleveland's administration. Disposing of his business in 1890, to his son, he returned to Unadilla, and in company with Fred. L. Joyce,
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Otsego County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers1878 · page 346Read the page →
Read the text
Loomis secretary. In August, 1875, the academy received an endowment from the town of Unadilla, being moneys received upon the sale of stock in the Albany and Susquehanna railroad. The institution is now in a prosperous condition, and not too much praise can be bestowed upon its enterprising progenitors and those through whose ' efforts it has been sustained and fostered.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Grand Army of the Republic. History of the order in the U. S. by counties. Otsego County posts, Department of New York, including a complete record of soldiers surviving and buried in the county, with company and regiment ... Compiled by D. A. Ellis1892Read the page →
Read the text
He is now residing at Unadilla with his family — an estimable wife, a son 21 years old, and a daughter, age 19. He is Past High Priest of Unadilla Chapter, trustee of the Unadilla Academy, an honored and respected citizen and neiirhbor.
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
Unadilla, 1770 to 1915
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
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.
In 1770, according to Wikidata. Unadilla’s post office opened in 1800, and the census of 1820 counted 2,194 people here.
How does Unadilla rank for history?
Unadilla is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. 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 Unadilla?
52% of Unadilla’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±11.4 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1938.
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), 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.
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2022
2011
