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History · Amsterdam

Amsterdam dates to 1828, and 62% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1901 on and the census since 1850.

1828founded
0on the National Register
62%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Roseohioresident · CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answers

How Amsterdam began

When was Amsterdam founded?

1828

Amsterdam dates its founding to 1828 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1850.

First census: 168 in 18502020 census: 436198 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1828.The full story ↓

What stands out about Amsterdam’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Amsterdam are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19013 editions of the USGS map, 1901 to 1972. Watch Amsterdam change.Old housesHalf of Amsterdam’s homes were built before 1938.Boom and bustPeaked at 1,271 in 1920; 436 people lived here in 2020.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Amsterdam’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Amsterdam’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Amsterdam on the map, 1901 to 1972

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Amsterdam. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Amsterdam on the 1901 USGS mapAmsterdam on the 1960 USGS mapAmsterdam on the 1972 USGS map1901Cadiz 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 Amsterdam.

The story

How Amsterdam came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Amsterdam.

Read it all →

Amsterdam was laid out in 1828. The community was founded by Dutch immigrant David Johnson and named after the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. A post office called Amsterdam has been in operation since 1832. Amsterdam was designed a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation in 1997.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Amsterdam, 1828 to 1920

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1828
    FoundingAmsterdam is established
  3. 1828Post officeThe Elk Fork post office opens
  4. 1832Post officeThe Elk Fork post office closes
  5. 1832Post officeThe Amsterdam post office opens
  6. 20th century
  7. 1901On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  8. 1920CensusPopulation peaks at 1,271
By decade

Amsterdam, decade by decade

Today5 recent
Hope Church2016Hope ChurchMap of Jefferson County Ohio Highlighting Amsterdam Village2015Map of Jefferson County Ohio Highlighting Amsterdam V…MapSt. Joseph, Amsterdam, Ohio 2012-08-052012St. Joseph, Amsterdam, Ohio 2012-08-05Entering2007EnteringOHMap-doton-Amsterdam2006OHMap-doton-Amsterdam
People over time

Amsterdam, census by census

02004006008001,0001,2001,4001850190019502000Peak: 1,271

Peaked at 1,271 in 1920; 436 people lived here in 2020.

15 censuses, 1850–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Amsterdam’s Wikipedia page.

Places that used to be

Lost post offices

Amsterdam’s post office has been open since 1832. Another post office, Elk Fork, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Elk Fork
1828–1832
Amsterdam
1832–today
18201920today

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Springfield TownshipIts storyBLoudon Township1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Amsterdam’s history

What year was Amsterdam founded?

In 1828, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Amsterdam’s post office opened in 1828, and the census of 1850 counted 168 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (5), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.