Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 54% of U.S. towns · #610 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
Most of Avon was built recently: 2% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 2001. Below: maps from 1901 on and the census since 1920.
Avon dates its founding to 1814 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1920.
More historic than 54% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Avon is more historic than 54% of U.S. towns, #610 of 993 in Ohio. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
Ohio towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Ohio town has 2.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Avon’s 2.4 sits near the middle of its state (54% of Ohio towns have fewer) while its 6 historic buildings outnumber those of 72% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). 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 Avon’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Avon. 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 Avon.
Avon’s post office has been open since 1828. Two other post offices 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).
From Wikipedia’s history of Avon.
In the 17th century, what is now Avon, Avon Lake, Bay Village, and Westlake were all once one territory. This territory was inhabited by various Native American tribes, such as the Wyandots, Ottawas, and Eries, who lived in wigwams or simple-stone dwellings. They settled, traded, fought, and later forcibly moved elsewhere.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Avon, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Through the township of Avon this road passes very near the bank of the Jake,-and here, where is now a succession of tasty cottages and beautiful villas, Noah Davis, in the year 1812, made a settlement, the first in the township. He erected the first log house, but where it was located, or who composed his family, we have been unable to ascertain, as he only remained a short time, removing from the township in less than
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Davis Settles on Lake Siioke Road "Early in the history of the Western Reserve a road was established from Cleveland westward along the shore of the lake. Over this mail was transported as early as 1807. Through tiie township of Avon, this road passed very near the bank of tlu; lake and here, where is now a succession of tasty cottages and beautiful villas, Noah Davis, in the year 1812, made a settlement, the first in the township. He erected the first log house, but where it was located, or who composed his family, we have
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Avon Township Created On the 27th of October, 1818, the Town of Avon, together with the annexations hereinbefore stated, was set off from Dover, and organized in a separate township by the name of Troy, by the commissioners of Cuyahoga County. It will l)e remembered that, at tliis date, the river from the point where it passes into Slieffield north to the lake was the boundary line between Huron and Cuyahoga counties. A special election was ordered for township officers, to be held Noveml)er 1), 1818.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
ing it was a part of Dover. In December, 1824, upon petition of forty citizens, the name of the town was changed from Troy to Avon, by the commissioners of Lorain county. In 1818, the first school-house was built, near the center of the town, and in the fall of that year, Larkin A. Williams opened
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 SurveyThe 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.
Grew from 1,460 people in 1920 to 24,847 in 2020, more than tenfold.
11 censuses, 1920–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Avon’s Wikipedia page.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1814, according to Wikidata. Avon’s post office opened in 1828, and the census of 1920 counted 1,460 people here.
Avon is more historic than 54% of U.S. towns, #610 of 993 in Ohio. 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.
5 listings: 5 buildings, among them the William E. Hurst House (listed 1974, the first). 6 historic buildings in all.
2% of Avon’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 2001.
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 (3), Wikidata (3), the National Register of Historic Places (5), 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.
2023
2023
2012