Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 31% of U.S. towns · #838 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
Most of Brunswick was built recently: 1% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1979. Below: maps from 1904 on and the census since 1960.
Brunswick dates its founding to 1815 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1960.
More historic than 31% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Brunswick is more historic than 31% of U.S. towns, #838 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 Brunswick’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (23% of Ohio towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikipedia (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 Brunswick’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Brunswick. 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 Brunswick.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Born hereHarriet G. Walker is born here
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
Born hereRicky Wysocki is born hereFrom Wikipedia’s history of Brunswick.
Brunswick was founded on January 1, 1815, and was named randomly in a naming contest after Brunswick, Germany. It was incorporated as a village on February 1, 1960, and incorporated as a city on October 2, 1960.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Brunswick, cut from the printed page as they were published.
It is not certainly known who built the first house in the village of Brunswick Center. It is likely, however, that the first was built in 1819 by Thomas Stearns. The building was a round-log structure, and a short time after its erection a few hundred dollars’ worth of goods were placed in one apartment. This, so far as now remembered, was the first stock
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
It is not certainly known who built the first house in the village of Brunswick Center. It is likely, however, that the first was built in 1819 by Thomas Stearns. The building was a round-log structure, and a short time after its erection a few hunched dollars’ worth of | goods were placed in one apartment. This, ■ so far as now remembered, was the first stock
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
In my details of the first openings and settlements made in the township of Brunswick, I may wholly fail to please those who feed on refined literature. It has always been my fortune (some would say misfortune) to gain a competence by industry, and to be measurably deprived of spending much time in reading. I have enjoyed a full share of the toils of life without many of the luxuries.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
EVENTY years ago, the now densely populated township of Brunswick was a tangled wildwood and wilderness, wherein were found the rude deer-skin wigwams of the Indians and the winding trails and hidden lairs of numerous species of wild animals. The report of the settler's rifle and the echo of his ax were unknown, save those made by wander-
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.
Grew from 11,725 people in 1960 to 35,426 in 2020, 3 times over.
7 censuses, 1960–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Brunswick’s Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Brunswick’s post office has been open since 1820. Another post office, Burnetts Corners, 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).
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1815, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Brunswick’s post office opened in 1820, and the census of 1960 counted 11,725 people here.
Brunswick is more historic than 31% of U.S. towns, #838 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.
1% of Brunswick’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1979.
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 (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 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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