Garfield Heights dates to 1904, and 24% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 49% of U.S. towns · #667 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
1 place in town is on the National Register, among them a historic district with 5 buildings. Below: 8 old photos and papers, maps from 1903 on, and the census since 1920.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Garfield Heights is more historic than 49% of U.S. towns, #667 of 993 in Ohio. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
B−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Garfield Heights’ overall grade.
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 Garfield Heights’ 1.7 sits near the middle of its state (52% of Ohio towns have fewer) while its 5 historic buildings outnumber those of 70% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C to A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.9 points). Two sources give 1904.
Founding year: Wikidata (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 →
What stands out about Garfield Heights’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Peaked at 41,417 in 1970; 29,781 people lived here in 2020.
11 censuses, 1920–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Garfield Heights’ Wikipedia page.
On the map
Garfield Heights on the map, 1903 to 1994
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Garfield Heights. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1903Cleveland sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Garfield Heights.
The area was originally part of Newburgh Township. The Village of South Newburgh was formed in 1907, changed its name to Garfield Hts Village in 1919 and it was incorporated as Garfield Heights in 1930 when the cities population hit 5000. The city is named after Garfield Park, which in turn was named in honor of President James A. Garfield, a native of nearby Orange Township.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1904, according to Wikidata. the census of 1920 counted 2,530 people here.
How does Garfield Heights rank for history?
Garfield Heights is more historic than 49% of U.S. towns, #667 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.
What is on the National Register in Garfield Heights?
One place: the St. Joseph Convent and Academy Complex (listed 2006).
How old are the homes in Garfield Heights?
24% of Garfield Heights’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.9 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1955.
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), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1973
1973
1973
1973
Date?
2014
2014
2006
2006