Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1903 on and the census since 1870.
Arcadia dates its founding to 1855 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1870.
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 Arcadia’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Arcadia. 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 Arcadia.
From Wikipedia’s history of Arcadia.
Arcadia was laid out in 1855. The village most likely was named after Arcadia, Greece. On July 21, 1903, Arcadia was damaged by a fire.
Arcadia became a qualified Tree City USA as recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation in 2013.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Arcadia, cut from the printed page as they were published.
wife, Charles E. Jordan and wife, John and Andrew Zimmerman and wives, Abel Smart and wife, and a Mx. Bultz and wife. The society first met at the houses of members and afterward in the hewed-log schoolhouse erected about one-talf mile north of Arcadia. A log church was finally built close to this schoolhouse, and used until imroofed by a storm. In September, 1872, the present brick structure in Arcadia was dedicated.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
ship, where he held the offices of treasurer and clerk. While liolding the oftlce cf township treasurer he was robbed of one thousand two hundred dollars of the public money, which he made good by selling some property w'hich he owned in the town of Arcadia. This robbery occurred in 1868, but Mr. Stall's prompt restitution of the funds by sacrificing his individual means, not only satisfied the people, but raised him higher in their estimation. During the Mexican war he held a commission as colonel given under Governor David Todd, of the state of Ohio, and fought under
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Risdon and Arcadia. — On the 6th of September, 1832, the village of Risdon, named in honor of Daniel Risdon, the surveyor, was laid out by John Gorsuch, thirty lots being on the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 6, Township 2 north. Range 13, in the county of Seneca; and thirty lots on the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 1, Township 2 north. Range 12, in Hancock County, the center of Main Street being the county line. Risdon postoffice was established January 28, 1837, with Alvin Coles as postmaster; and his successors were William N. Morgan,
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
the New York, Chicago & tSt. Louis Rail Way, and being rapidly completed, runs in a strait east and west line across the township, a little south of the center. Both these roads run through the village of Arcadia. Hon. Henry Sheets, of whom I obtained the greater portion of the foregoing relating to the township, relates the following incident of pioneer life.
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.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyBetween 288 and 689 people in every census since 1870.
16 censuses, 1870–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Arcadia’s Wikipedia page.
Arcadia’s post office has been open since 1856. Another post office, Jordan, opened and closed inside today’s town.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
In 1855, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Arcadia’s post office opened in 1856, and the census of 1870 counted 288 people here.
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). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System 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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