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History · Hamler

Hamler dates to 1874, and 46% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1901 on and the census since 1880.

1874founded
0on the National Register
46%homes built before 1940
1famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Quick answers

How Hamler began

When was Hamler founded?

1874

Hamler dates its founding to 1874 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 231 in 18802020 census: 600152 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1875.The full story ↓

What stands out about Hamler’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Hamler are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19083 editions of the USGS map, 1908 to 1973. Watch Hamler change.Old housesHalf of Hamler’s homes were built before 1947.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Hamler’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Hamler’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Hamler on the map, 1908 to 1973

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Hamler. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Hamler on the 1908 USGS mapHamler on the 1960 USGS mapHamler on the 1973 USGS map1908Ottawa 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 Hamler.

The story

How Hamler came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Hamler.

Read it all →

Hamler was platted in 1874. The village was named for its proprietor, John Hamler. A post office has been in operation at Hamler since 1875.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Hamler, 1874 to 1947

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1874
    FoundingHamler is established
  3. 1875Post officeThe Hamler post office opens
  4. 20th century
  5. 1908On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  6. 1947Born hereChip Davis is born here
By decade

Hamler, decade by decade

Today12 recent
Li e's Apartments2015Li e's ApartmentsHamler post office 435242015Hamler post office 43524Hamler historical museum2015Hamler historical museumHamler commercial district, Randolph at Allen2015Hamler commercial district, Randolph at AllenHamler State Bank, Allen and Randolph2015Hamler State Bank, Allen and RandolphHamler St. Paul's2015Hamler St. Paul'sHamler Rail King2015Hamler Rail KingBranch library2015Branch libraryMap of Henry County Ohio Highlighting Hamler Village2015Map of Henry County Ohio Highlighting Hamler VillageMapDon Swanson Football Stadium 8286729100 o2014Don Swanson Football Stadium 8286729100 oHamler, Ohio2012Hamler, OhioOHMap-doton-Hamler2004OHMap-doton-Hamler
Every building

Hamler, building by building, 1901–1909

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.

Hamler fire insurance map, 1901, sheet 11901Sheet 1 of 2
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

People over time

Hamler, census by census

010020030040050060070018801900192019401960198020002020Peak: 681

Between 231 and 681 people in every census since 1880.

15 censuses, 1880–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Hamler’s Wikipedia page.

Questions about Hamler’s history

What year was Hamler founded?

In 1874, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Hamler’s post office opened in 1875, and the census of 1880 counted 231 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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 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 Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.