Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 12% of U.S. towns · #962 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
Most of Jefferson Township was built recently: 3% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1991. Below: maps from 1911 on and old-book passages.
More historic than 12% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Jefferson Township is more historic than 12% of U.S. towns, #962 of 993 in Ohio. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls 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 Jefferson Township’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: our sources. 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 Jefferson Township’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Jefferson Township. 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 Jefferson Township.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Jefferson Township yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Jefferson Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2020 census counted 2,546 people in the township.
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 2,797 to 2,546 (-9%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Passages that mention Jefferson Township, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Jefferson was a township prior to 1810, but the exact date of its organization is unknown. It included Valley Township until 1860, when the township was divided, the eastern part retaining the name of Jefferson and the western part becoming Valley Township. Jefferson Township was formerly part of Seal and Union Townships. i The present Jefferson Township was settled first on Long Run in the southeast corner of the township in 1808. Some of the earliest settlers were James ‘Painter’ Wilson, Joshua Tritt, J. H. Munn, James Haney, Jesse
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
It was formed June 4, 1860, from Jefferson Township and was so named on account of its location. Its territory was originally a part of Seal Township. In 1815, Seal disappeared from the map of Scioto County. On June 4, 1860, a petition was presented to the Commissioners favoring a separate Township to be called "Valley.” The question had been voted on in the Spring election and the ticket favoring separation had carried, therefore on presentation of the petition by A. F. Miller, the following action was taken; “It is now ordered. That a new Township be, and the same is hereby
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Jefferson was a township prior to 1810, but the exact date of its organization is unknown. It included Valley Township until 1860, when the township was divided, the eastern part retaining the name of Jefferson and the western part becoming Valley Township. Jefferson Township was formerly part of Seal and Union Townships. . The present Jefferson Township was settled first on Long Run m the southeast corner of the township in 1808. Some of the earliest settlers were James "Painter” Wilson, Joshua Tritt, J. H. Munn, James Haney, Jesse
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.
Nobody well known was born in Jefferson Township itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
Jefferson Township is more historic than 12% of U.S. towns, #962 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.
3% of Jefferson Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.7 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1991.
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 (4), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, 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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