Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Kettering

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
C−History
History · Kettering

Kettering dates to 1955, and 4 of its places are on the National Register

More historic than 22% of U.S. towns · #896 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it

Most of Kettering was built recently: 6% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1961. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1913 on, and the census since 1960.

1955founded
4on the National Register
6%homes built before 1940
1old photo or paper
16famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Kettering’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Kettering began

When was Kettering founded?

1955

Kettering dates its founding to 1955 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1960.

First census: 54,462 in 19602020 census: 57,86271 years

How historic is Kettering?

C−

More historic than 22% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Kettering’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Kettering is more historic than 22% of U.S. towns, #896 of 993 in Ohio. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.

C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Kettering’s overall grade.
Founding era1955, from Wikidata: founded 1945 or later, an older era than 2% of U.S. townsD−Homes built before 19405.6% of homes (±0.9) · typical OH town 14.5% · U.S. 8.4%CNational Register4 listings, 5 historic buildings, 0.9 per 10,000 residents · typical OH town 2.9 · U.S. 2.4B
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 22%
NewerOlder
Ohio towns of 2,500+ (993)Ahead of 10%

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 Kettering’s 0.9 sits near the middle of its state (48% 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 D to C+. The pre-1940 share (±0.9 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1955.

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 Kettering’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 1 old photo is in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.Lost villages12 hamlets and corners are still on the map.A National Historic Landmark4 places on the National Register, including Charles F. Kettering House, a National Historic Landmark.On the map since 19135 editions of the USGS map, 1913 to 1981. Watch Kettering change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Kettering’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo1 archive item has no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewKettering Government Center, 3600 Shroy…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Places that used to be

Old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.

Hamlets and corners on the map
BeavertownBerkley HeightsCarmonteGreenmontHampsteadLindenhallOakdalePasadenaShakertownShort HillsSouth DaleSouthern Hills
Gone or out of use
School Number 1schoolSchool Number 12schoolSchool Number 6school
7cemeteries and burying grounds inside Kettering
BeavertownBeth AbrahamCreagerDavidHimesMorganRiverview

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

On the National Register

4 historic places in Kettering

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. One is a National Historic Landmark, the highest tier.

places listed
4
National Historic Landmark
1
Charles F. Kettering House
historic buildings protected
5
each building in a district counts
first listed
1977
Charles F. Kettering House
TrailsendLong-Mueller HouseDeeds' BarnCharles F. Kettering House, built 1914★
Buildings★ landmark

Architectural styles listings

Neo-Classical1
Federal1
Georgian Revival1
★ Landmark
Charles F. Kettering HouseBuilt 1914
TrailsendNeo-Classical
Long-Mueller HouseFederal
All 4 listings
Deeds' BarnBuilding · listed 1979

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

The story

How Kettering came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Kettering.

Read it all →

The area where the city of Kettering now lies was settled from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s, largely as farmland. The population in the area started to grow, prompting the creation of (now defunct) Van Buren Township in 1841. In November 1952, township voters approved incorporating as the Village of Kettering. (In 1953, the western portion of the village voted to secede, forming a new township, which is now the City of Moraine). By 1955, the village's population had grown to 38,118, which qualified it to claim city status, with the official proclamation by the state on June 24. The city is named for inventor Charles F. Kettering, who resided here in his home, Ridgeleigh Terrace, from 1914 until his death in 1958. Charles Kettering is known for his numerous inventions and contributions to Metro Dayton.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Kettering, 1913 to 1987

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

  1. 20th century
  2. 1913On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  3. 1914BuiltCharles F. Kettering House is built
  4. 1955
    FoundingKettering is established
  5. 1957Born hereJim Paxson is born here
  6. 1974Born hereRob Dyrdek is born here
  7. 1977LandmarkCharles F. Kettering House named a National Historic Landmark
  8. 1983Born hereChris Rolfe is born here
  9. 1987Born hereBrooklyn Decker is born here
By decade

Kettering, decade by decade

Date unknown1 to date
Kettering Government Center, 3600 Shroyer RoadDate?Kettering Government Center, 3600 Shroyer Road
Today2 recent
WHIO-TV News Set2009WHIO-TV News SetBecause nothing says "Winter"... - Flickr - DDFic2007Because nothing says "Winter"... - Flickr - DDFic
On the map

Kettering on the map, 1913 to 1981

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

Kettering on the 1913 USGS mapKettering on the 1955 USGS mapKettering on the 1966 USGS mapKettering on the 1974 USGS mapKettering on the 1981 USGS map1913Waynesville 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 Kettering.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Kettering Government Center, 3600 Shroyer Road
Retake this viewKettering Government Center, 3600 Shroyer Road

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Kettering’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Kettering, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,00040,00045,00050,00055,00060,00065,00070,00075,0001960198020002020Peak: 69,599

Between 54,462 and 69,599 people in every census since 1960.

7 censuses, 1960–2020.

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

Famous people

16 famous people were born in Kettering

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Brooklyn DeckerAmerican model and actress · b. 1987
Rob DyrdekAmerican skateboarder · b. 1974
Chris RolfeAmerican soccer player · b. 1983
Jim PaxsonAmerican basketball player and executive · b. 1957
Janelle ParksAmerican bicycle racer · b. 1962
A. J. HawkAmerican football player and sports analyst · b. 1984
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Oakwood6 historic placesA−Moraine2 historic placesC−Dayton111 historic placesA+Washington Township8 historic placesC+Sugarcreek Township1 historic placeCBeavercreek TownshipIts storyD−Centerville3 historic placesBBeavercreekIts storyD−Miami Township5 historic placesB+RiversideIts storyD

Questions about Kettering’s history

What year was Kettering founded?

In 1955, according to Wikidata. the census of 1960 counted 54,462 people here.

How does Kettering rank for history?

Kettering is more historic than 22% of U.S. towns, #896 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 Kettering?

4 listings: 4 buildings, among them the Charles F. Kettering House (a National Historic Landmark since 1977). 5 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Kettering?

6% of Kettering’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1961.

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).

From Wikimedia Commons (2), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (4), 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.