Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 48% of U.S. towns. What drives it
Below: maps from 1907 on and old-book passages.
North Lima dates its founding to 1826 (Wikipedia’s history). Its post office opened in 1832.
More historic than 48% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, North Lima is more historic than 48% of U.S. towns. Its age holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull 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 North Lima’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: Wikipedia (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 →
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 North Lima’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of North Lima. 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 North Lima.
From Wikipedia’s history of North Lima.
North Lima was laid out around 1826. The name may be a transfer from Lima, New York. A post office called North Lima has been in operation since 1832 which bears the ZIP code of 44452.
The former site of South Range High School is located in the town center. The building is now used to host many of the town's local businesses.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention North Lima, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Jacob Esterly built one of the earliest tanneries, near the village of North Lima. NORTH LIMA. This is a pleasantly situated village, and was founded about 1826 by James Simpson.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Jacob Fsterly built one of the earliest tanneries, near the village of North Lima, NORTH LIMA, This is a pleasantly situated village, and was founded about 1826 by James Simpson.
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.
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA - panoramio (9)
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA - panoramio (8)
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA - panoramio (7)
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA - panoramio (6)
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA - panoramio (5)
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA - panoramio (4)
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA - panoramio (3)
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA - panoramio (2)
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA - panoramio (10)
2014North Lima, OH 44452, USA - panoramio (1)
2007OHMap-doton-North LimaNobody well known was born in North Lima itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1826, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. North Lima’s post office opened in 1832.
North Lima is more historic than 48% of U.S. towns. 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.
10% of North Lima’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.3 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1989.
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 (12), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps 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.
