Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 32% of U.S. towns · #831 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
Most of Dry Ridge was built recently: 2% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1992. Below: maps from 1915 on and old-book passages.
The Dry Ridge post office opened in 1838, the earliest record of the town by name.
More historic than 32% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Dry Ridge is more historic than 32% of U.S. towns, #831 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 Dry Ridge’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: the first post office (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 Dry Ridge’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Dry Ridge. 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 Dry Ridge.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Dry Ridge yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Dry Ridge is a census-designated place (CDP) in Colerain Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,698 at the 2020 census.
Its first post office opened in 1838. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 2,782 to 2,698 (-3%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Passages that mention Dry Ridge, cut from the printed page as they were published.
1875. During Father Shoefeld’ s administration five acres have been added to the church property, the interior of the church has been remodeled, and the parish has been placed out of debt. The present numerical strength is 150 families. The churches at Cumminsville, Mt. Pleasant, Dry Ridge, Taylor’s Creek and Bridgetown have been formed on the territory formerly embraced in this parish. St. Aloysius Catholic Church , Bridgetown, is a parish of eighty families. The church property comprises niue acres. The church edifice is a brick structure, erected in 1867; the parochial residence was built in 1870. Revs. Veit, R. Felt-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Dry Ridge United Brethren Church is an old organization. The present frame church building was dedicated in January, 1890, during the pastorate of Rev. Henrjr Frank. The frame church that previously occupied its site was built many years ago.
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.
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Nobody well known was born in Dry Ridge itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
The Dry Ridge post office opened in 1838, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
Dry Ridge is more historic than 32% of U.S. towns, #831 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.
2% of Dry Ridge’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.5 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1992.
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 U.S. Geological Survey historical maps 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.
