Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 63% of U.S. towns. What drives it
Below: maps from 1912 on and the census since 1850.
Frankfort dates its founding to 1827 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1850.
More historic than 63% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Frankfort is more historic than 63% of U.S. towns. Its age 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 Frankfort’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 Frankfort’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Frankfort. 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 Frankfort.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Born hereEmma Ann Reynolds is born here
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyFrom Wikipedia’s history of Frankfort.
Frankfort was originally called Oldtown, and under the latter name was laid out in 1816. A post office called Old Town was established in 1817, and the name was changed to Frankfort in 1834. Frankfort was incorporated as a village in 1827.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Frankfort, cut from the printed page as they were published.
articles for the public press, and his well ordered mind, his long experience, has given him something to say and the power to say it well, However, his real work in the world has been farming. He inherited a valuable farm about two miles west of Frankfort and was actively engaged in its cultivation for many years. While he still owns the farm, he is now enjoying the comforts of retirement in his home at Frankfort.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
rapid transmission of news (1837). He cast his first vote in a presidential campaign when the whig party was still in existence. In the meantime he had attended the district school and the high school at Frankfort in Ross County, and began the study of medicine under Dr. William Latta at Frankfort. Doctor Morgan began the practice of medicine at Jasper in Pike County, Ohio, in 1863. For the preceding Vol. II—24
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.
2016Frankfort Presbyterian church, built 1893
2015Map of Ross County Ohio Highlighting Frankfort VillageMap
2013FrankfortOH3
2013FrankfortOH2
2013FrankfortOH1
2013FrankfortAdenaHighSchool
2012Frankfort, Ohio
2012Frankfort, Ohio Water Tower
2012Adena High School
2010Frankfort Works Mound
2009House in
2004OHMap-doton-FrankfortBetween 519 and 1,084 people in every census since 1850.
18 censuses, 1850–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Frankfort’s Wikipedia page.
Frankfort’s post office has been open since 1834. Another post office, Old Town, 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).
In 1827, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Frankfort’s post office opened in 1817, and the census of 1850 counted 553 people here.
Frankfort is more historic than 63% 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.
22% of Frankfort’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.8 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1968.
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 (12), 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.
