Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Its Register listing is the Fort Miami. Below: maps from 1928 on and old-book passages.
The Elizabethtown post office opened in 1819, the earliest record of the town by name.
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 Elizabethtown’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of Elizabethtown.
Elizabethtown was platted in 1817 by Isaac Mills, and named for his wife. It was a depot on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway. In 1894, Elizabethtown was described as having three stores, two churches and a grain elevator.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Elizabethtown, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Elizabethtown, as we have seen, was settled as early as 1806, but was not platted as a village until April 15, 18 1 7, when the town was ushered into being by the hands of Isaac Mills.* In later days it has been found necessary, in order to meet the requirements of the post office department, to give the name Riverdale to the post office here. It does not seem to have been noticed in the State Gazetteer of 18 19, but in that of 1841 the
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
township. From time to time this river has changed its bed in the flow of the ages, and old channels are plainly to be seen, especially in the lower part of its course, as that south of Elizabethtown. The streams are generally well bridged at the desirable points ; and the Whitewater, at a point on the road from Elizabethtown northeastward, has the finest suspension bridge, exclusively belonging to this county. A notable pioneer ferry was
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The first schoolhouse in Whitewater township was built of buckeye logs and stood a half-mile northwest of Elizabethtown. Dennis Clark taught here in 1800. The second teacher was William Jones. The second schoolhouse stood an eighth of a mile east of Elizabethtown, and was built by James Blackburn. A Mr. Polk taught there in 1807-09. John F. Lancaster taught at a schoolhouse where C. W.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
SCHOOLS, The first schoolhouse in Whitewater township was built of buckeye logs and stood a half-mile northwest of Elizabethtown. Dennis Clark taught here in 1800. The second teacher was William Jones. The second schoolhouse stood an eighth of a mile east of Elizabethtown, and was built by James Blackburn. A Mr. Polk taught there in 1807-09. John F. Lancaster taught at a schoolhouse where C. W.
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.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Elizabethtown. 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 Elizabethtown.
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
The Elizabethtown post office opened in 1819, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
One place: the Fort Miami (listed 1971).
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). How TownRatings grades history →
From the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, 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.
