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History · Bradner

Bradner dates to 1875, and 42% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1901 on and the census since 1880.

1875founded
0on the National Register
42%homes built before 1940
1famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Quick answers

How Bradner began

When was Bradner founded?

1875

Bradner dates its founding to 1875 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 281 in 18802020 census: 971151 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1876.The full story ↓

What stands out about Bradner’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 Bradner are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19014 editions of the USGS map, 1901 to 1994. Watch Bradner change.Old housesHalf of Bradner’s homes were built before 1957.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Bradner’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Bradner’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

Bradner on the map, 1901 to 1994

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

Bradner on the 1901 USGS mapBradner on the 1958 USGS mapBradner on the 1969 USGS mapBradner on the 1994 USGS map1901Elmore 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 Bradner.

The story

How Bradner came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Bradner.

Read it all →

Bradner was platted in 1875, and named for John Bradner, proprietor. A post office called Bradner has been in operation since 1876. The village was incorporated in 1889.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Bradner, 1875 to 1901

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1875
    FoundingBradner is established
  3. 1876Post officeThe Bradner post office opens
  4. 1887Born hereJesse A. Ladd is born here
  5. 20th century
  6. 1901On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
By decade

Bradner, decade by decade

Today5 recent
Stephens Block in2016Stephens Block inOld Time Church in2016Old Time Church inKings Parish Church2016Kings Parish ChurchCrocker from Main2016Crocker from MainBradner village hall and opera house2016Bradner village hall and opera house
Every building

Bradner, building by building, 1910–1920

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Bradner fire insurance map, 1910, sheet 11910Sheet 1 of 1
Edition
Sheets
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

People over time

Bradner, census by census

02004006008001,0001,20018801900192019401960198020002020Peak: 1,175

Between 281 and 1,175 people in every census since 1880.

15 censuses, 1880–2020.

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

Questions about Bradner’s history

What year was Bradner founded?

In 1875, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Bradner’s post office opened in 1876, and the census of 1880 counted 281 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, 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 Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.