Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. What drives it
1 place in town is on the National Register. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1887 on, and the census since 1820.
Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Waterford is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. All 2 inputs put Waterford near the top nationally; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest.
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 Waterford’s 1,583 sits above most of its state (98% of New York towns have fewer) while its 330 historic buildings outnumber those of 96% of U.S. towns.
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 →
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 Waterford’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Waterford. 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 Waterford.
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.
1887Sheet 1 of 8Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
From Wikipedia’s history of Waterford.
The village of Waterford is the oldest incorporated village in the United States, having been incorporated in 1794 before the town was formed. Waterford has been host to "Canal Fest" and "Tugboat Roundup" celebrations for many years.
The town of Waterford was formed from the town of Halfmoon in 1816.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Waterford, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Very early tlie village became a place of so much importance that its citizens were naturally unwilling to have their town business done at such remote points as the immense extent of Half- Moon then required. Waterford had risen to the dignity of an incorporated village in 1801. The inconvenience of distance was, however, endured until 1816, when the town of Waterford was organized, with a territory so small that its citizens have never since had to
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The limits of the village of Waterford are not; very extensive,— a compact territory, bounded mostly by the Champlain canal and the rivers, only being comprised in the corporation. Outside the bounds of the corporation is West Waterford, a station upon that branch of the Rensselaer and Saratoga railroad, which passes through Cohoes. Opposite Cohoes, during the past few years, quite a village has grown up under the name of North-Side. It is very
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
John H. Hill was reared in the village of Waterford, this county, and obtained a good practical education in the public schools of that place. At the early age of fifteen years he entered a mercantile establishment at Waterford, as a clerk and salesman, and began his training in a pursuit which he has ever since
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
. . . The day after. Bell and I went to London from Tittenhanger for a few hours, that we might see Loo again, for as soon as she knew that Waterford was not coming, the best thing she could do was to join him, and she went that now quick way by Milford Haven, and found it calm and hot, though with a storm brewing and sheet lightning all the way; and Waterford was all ready at Waterford to drive her home, so she
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.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
In the archivePSM V56 D0206 From the new york evening post 1801
Born hereEgbert Ludovicus Viele is born here
Born hereCharles Waldron is born here
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
Born hereEthelda Bleibtrey is born hereOne decade in the archive so far: the 1800s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
The 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 1,184 and 8,695 people in every census since 1820.
21 censuses, 1820–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Waterford’s Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
Waterford 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.
72% of Waterford’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±8.5 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1938.
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 (6), 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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