Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 36% of U.S. towns. What drives it
Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1895 on, and the census since 1870.
The Edgerton post office opened in 1854, the earliest record of the town by name.
More historic than 36% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Edgerton is more historic than 36% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull 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 Edgerton’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 Edgerton’s history is told.
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.
1895Sheet 1 of 1Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Edgerton. 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 Edgerton.
From Wikipedia’s history of Edgerton.
The area around Edgerton was organized as St. Joseph Township on December 2, 1832. Edgerton was platted in 1854 by Charles Pratt. The village was named after Alfred Peck Edgerton, a land agent and U.S. congressman. A post office was established in 1854. The village was incorporated on December 4, 1865.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Edgerton, cut from the printed page as they were published.
E. A. GEAUQUE during the last two decades has developed many important interests directly related to the welfare and progress of the Town of Edgerton, including the Edgerton Telephone Company, which he founded and of which he is manager. Mr. Geauque was born in Milford Township March 16, 1872, son of A. A. and Mary Ellen (Smith) Geauque, the former a native of Holmes County and the latter of Wayne County, Ohio. The Geauque and Smith families were among the pioneers of Williams County, the
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The town of Edgerton, according to the census of 1900, contains a population of one thousand and forty-three. This is an increase of seventy-six during the last decade, a percentage that is small, but it represents a substantial growth. It is a busy trading point, sustained by a large scope of good farming country, and its support is assured in the character and reputation of the business men. Some of the stores would do credit to a much larger place. Considerable manufacturing is also done, and an excellent graded school in the village af-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Acquiring his preliminary education in Fulton County, Ohio, Lewis E. Groff completed his studies in Butler, Indiana, and there learned the tailor's trade. Coming to Edgerton, Ohio, in 1894, Mr. Groff, who had but a limited capital to start on, opened a shop, and as a tailor has since met with very satisfactory success, his skilful workmanship having won him a substantial patronage in Edgerton
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Afterward they held elections in the school house on the hill, a little more than a mile north of Edgerton. Soon after Edgerton was started, they began to hold elections there, and it was the only voting place until the township was divided into precincts a few years ago. One of the first justices o£ the peace.and in fact one of the first officers elected in the township, was a Mr. Preston, but offices were not sought then as they are now. A Mr. Tanner and Alexander Kearnes were assessors for years. An office, now abolished, and which it was difficult
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.
One decade in the archive so far: the 1920s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.
Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Edgerton’s page.
Retake this view · +15Between 690 and 2,126 people in every census since 1870.
16 censuses, 1870–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Edgerton’s Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Edgerton’s post office has been open since 1854.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
The Edgerton post office opened in 1854, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
Edgerton is more historic than 36% of U.S. towns. 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.
17% of Edgerton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.8 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1967.
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 (6), 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, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) 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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