Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1901 on and the census since 1880.
Helena dates its founding to 1871 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.
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 Helena’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Helena. 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 Helena.
From Wikipedia’s history of Helena.
Helena was laid out in 1871 when the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad was extended to that point. The village was named in honor of Helena Thompson, the daughter of a local doctor.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Helena, cut from the printed page as they were published.
trade of carpenter. Purchasing a farm of 160 acres, he resided thereon until 1873, when (this being the year in which the town of Helena was settled) he took up his residence here, building the first house in the village. He has since had much to do with the development of the place, having built nineteen houses,. the schoolhouse,
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Helena is an incorporated village with a municipal organization and a separate school district. It is composed of territory from both the townships of Jackson and Washington, and is located on the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
James Donnel, a native of Ireland, made an early settlement here, where he died. His son James is station agent at Helena. Three old settlers, when asked who Patrick Byrne was, answered: "He was a fine Irishman." He settled in the northern part of the township, and acquired the
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
James Donnel, a native of Ireland, made an early settlement here, where he died. His son James is station agent at Helena. Three old settlers, when asked who Patrick Byrne was, answered: “He was a fine Irishman.” He settled in the northern part of the township, and acquired the
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.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyPeaked at 314 in 1950; 211 people lived here in 2020.
13 censuses, 1880–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Helena’s Wikipedia page.
Nobody well known was born in Helena itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Helena’s post office has been open since 1879. Another post office, Halena, 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 1871, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Helena’s post office opened in 1873, and the census of 1880 counted 111 people here.
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 Wikimedia Commons (3), Wikipedia, 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.
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