More historic than 5% of U.S. towns · #986 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
Most of Highland Heights was built recently: 1% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1981. Below: maps from 1905 on and the census since 1930.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Highland Heights is more historic than 5% of U.S. towns, #986 of 993 in Ohio. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Highland 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 Highland Heights’ 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.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1920.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be D. The pre-1940 share (±1.1 points) is firm at this size.
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 Highland Heights’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Highland Heights. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1905Mentor 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 Highland Heights.
Highland Heights was originally part of Mayfield Township. Highland Heights used to be home to the Front Row Theater, which operated between 1974 and 1993. In 1988, musician Roy Orbison played his last show there, two days prior to his death.
Highland Heights was the first city in Cuyahoga County to require new residential neighborhoods to have underground wiring and ornamental lamp posts.
In 1920, according to Wikidata. the census of 1930 counted 281 people here.
How does Highland Heights rank for history?
Highland Heights is more historic than 5% of U.S. towns, #986 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.
How old are the homes in Highland Heights?
1% of Highland Heights’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.1 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1981.
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 Wikipedia, 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.
