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Famous people · Waterloo

10 famous people were born in Waterloo, more of them writers and artists than in most towns

Most widely known is Louise Blanchard Bethune, the American architect, with articles in 14 languages. The next two names are Randolph Rogers and George Bradshaw Kelly. 5 of them were born in the age of mills and railroads, more than in any other period. For every 10,000 residents there are 21.7 on the list, well above the typical New York town’s 3.9.

#1 best knownLouise Blanchard BethuneWriting & Arts · 1856–1913
+6more
Born here
10
notable people
Best known
Louise Blanchard Bethune
in 14 Wikipedia languages
First
1825
Randolph Rogers
Youngest
1956
Mike McLaughlin
Most common field
Writing & Arts
4 people
Also called it home
1
notable residents

What stands out about Waterloo’s famous people

★ What stands out · Known for

What Waterloo is known for

Set against the usual town, writers and artists come out 3.9 times as common.

The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.

The best known

Born in Waterloo

Languages with an article: 14 for Louise Blanchard Bethune, 9 for Randolph Rogers, 5 for George Bradshaw Kelly.

Louise Blanchard Bethune#1
Writing & Arts

Louise Blanchard Bethune

1856–1913

American architect

14 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Randolph Rogers#2
Writing & Arts

Randolph Rogers

1825–1892

American artist

9 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
George Bradshaw Kelly#3
Politics & Law

George Bradshaw Kelly

1900–1971

American politician

5 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years

When Waterloo’s famous people were born

Births peak in the 1870s, with 2 people born in that decade.

A new nationMills & railroadsThe American century185019001950Frank LaMar ChristianBill ChappelleGeorge Bradshaw KellyRandolph Rogers
Writing & ArtsPolitics & LawSportsNotableFaith

Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.

Everyone

Everyone else born in Waterloo

Another 7, 2 of them writers and artists.

WP

William J. Pomeroy

1916–2009

American writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
MM

Mike McLaughlin

born 1956

American racing driver

Agnes Woodward

Agnes Woodward

1872–1938

American music educator

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Bill Chappelle

Bill Chappelle

1881–1944

American baseball player

Frank LaMar Christian

Frank LaMar Christian

1876–1955

American prison warden

CR

C. B. Reynolds

1846–1915

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
A chosen home

Also called Waterloo home

Born elsewhere, Jane Hunt lived here.

The town’s pick

Who’s the most famous person from Waterloo?

Pick one and say why. Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

The neighbour with the most names is Seneca Falls, at 12.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Waterloo and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.

Photo credits (10)