On its age, its old homes and the National Register, West Carthage is more historic than 59% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
B
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of West Carthage’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 West Carthage’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 (±8.4 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 West Carthage’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Settlement began circa 1798 with a ferry service and tavern established at that location, but development was slower compared to Carthage on the other side of the Black River in spite of water power available to both communities.
The village was incorporated in 1889, yet the early village government encountered notable resistance to obtaining funds for development.
Passages that mention West Carthage, cut from the printed page as they were published.
A history of Jefferson County in the state of New York1854 · page 132Read the page →
Read the text
Nelson J. Beach. The speculation iailed, and the property reverted to Champion, who sold it to V. Le Ray, the present owner of the greater part. This village company procured an act incorporating the West Carthage Iron and Lead Company, with a capital of $200,000 in shares of $'500, which was incorporated May 15, 1837. The first directors were Ebenezer Jesup, Jr.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Jefferson County, New York1878 · page 529Read the page →
Read the text
In the summer of 1852 the Congregational church in West Carthage was erected, and the body which previously had been one was separated into two parts. Rev. Mr. Doane resigned his charge December, 1855. In January, 1856, the church adopted the system of rotary eldership, and George Gilbert, Esq., was elected clerk of the session.
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
West Carthage, 1864 to 1982
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.
West Carthage is more historic than 59% 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 West Carthage?
39% of West Carthage’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±8.4 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1961.
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 (3), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people 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.
2006