Berea dates to 1836, and 17% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 86% of U.S. towns · #213 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
9 places in town are on the National Register, among them three historic districts with 27 buildings between them. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1902 on, and the census since 1870.
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1837.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Berea’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Berea is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #213 of 993 in Ohio. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Berea’s overall grade.
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 Berea’s 18.1 sits above most of its state (80% of Ohio towns have fewer) while its 33 historic buildings outnumber those of 82% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.8 points). Two sources give 1836.
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 →
What stands out about Berea’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Berea was established in 1836. The first European settlers were originally from Connecticut. Berea fell within Connecticut's Western Reserve and was surveyed and divided into townships and ranges by Gideon Granger, who served as postmaster general under President Thomas Jefferson. Abram Hickox, a Revolutionary War veteran, bought the first plot in what is today Middleburg Heights and in 1808 traveled west from Connecticut to his new purchase. Dissuaded by the swampy and heavily forested land, he decided to settle in Cleveland. He became successful as Cleveland's first full-time blacksmith. His plot of land was sold to his nephew, Jared Hickox, who came to the area with his wife Sarah and family in 1809. They followed an ancient Indian highway down through the forest from Cleveland and then, at what is now the corner of Bagley and Pearl roads, began to hack their way directly west. About…
Passages that mention Berea, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers1879 · page 203Read the page →
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This literary and classical institution, located in the village of Berea, was founded in 1863, and was incorporated and opened in 1864. The board of trustees consists of thirteen members, four of whom are residents of the county. The first faculty was composed of the following persons: Eev. Wm. Nast, D.D., president; Eev. J. Eothweiler, vice president; P. W. Mosblech, Ph.D.; Albert N"ast; Mary Hasen-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers1879 · page 476Read the page →
Read the text
Since 1849 the increase of Berea has been rapid and permanent, and the township outside has also greatly improved. Soon after that time Mr. Baldwin built a railroad, on which to freight stone from his quarry, running along the main road from Berea to the railroad about a mile distant, using the old-fashioned flat rail, over which he hauled cars loaded with stone by means of ox-teams. As business increased, and
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Tiiis literary and classical institution, located in (lie village of Berea, was founded in 18G3, and was ine()ri)orated and opened in 1804. The board of trustees consists of thirteen members, four of whom are residents of the county. The first faculty was composed of the following jiersons: Rev. Wm. Nast, D.I)., president; Rev. J. Rothweilev, vice president; !'. W. Mosblcch, Ph.D.; Albert Nast; Mary- Hasen-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Since 1849 the increase of Berea has been rapid and permanent, and the township outside has also greatly improved. Soon after that time Mr. Baldwin built a I'ailroad, on which to freight stone from his quarry, running along the main road from Berea to the railroad about a mile distant, using the old-fashioned flat rail, over which he hauled cars loaded with stone by means of ox-teams. As business increased, and
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.
By decade
Berea, decade by decade
3 decades in the archive, from the 1890s to the 1910s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
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.
In 1836, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Berea’s post office opened in 1837, and the census of 1870 counted 1,628 people here.
How does Berea rank for history?
Berea is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #213 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.
What is on the National Register in Berea?
9 listings: 6 buildings, among them the George W. Whitney House (listed 1974, the first), and 3 historic districts, the Baldwin-Wallace College North Campus Historic District, the Baldwin-Wallace College South Campus Historic District and the Lyceum Village Square And German Wallace College, with 27 contributing buildings. 33 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Berea?
17% of Berea’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.8 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1959.
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 (4), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (9), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, 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.
1907
1907