Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 63% of U.S. towns · #505 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
Most of Ross was built recently: 3% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1972. Below: maps from 1915 on and old-book passages.
Ross dates its founding to 1817 (Wikipedia’s history). Its post office opened in 1819.
More historic than 63% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Ross is more historic than 63% of U.S. towns, #505 of 993 in Ohio. Its age holds 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 Ross’ 15.4 sits above most of its state (79% of Ohio towns have fewer) while its 4 historic buildings outnumber those of 68% 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 Ross’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Ross. 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 Ross.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Born hereLeigh C. Turner is born here
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyFrom Wikipedia’s history of Ross.
The settlement was laid out by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Clark on February 1, 1817, as Venus; the spelling later became corrupted as "Venice". Since there was already another post office in the state called Venice, near Lake Erie, this one was renamed in 1834 as Ross.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Ross, cut from the printed page as they were published.
He then came to the Northwest Territory and established a home in what is now Liberty Township of Ross County. He thus became the third successive stock from which John Wesley Rittenour is descended of the early pioneers of Ross County. His first home in this county was on High Bank prairie, and later he moved to Dry Run, six miles above the High Bank. James Orr was very liberally educated, was a surveyor by profession and one of the first school teachers in Ross County. His death occurred in 1802. Thomas Orr, the maternal grand-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Until he was ten years of age he spoke only the German language. An English school supplied his subsequent training, and he was quite well educated and also applied habits of industry at home. When married, his father gave him a farm in Union Township of Ross County, and there he brought his bride and started housekeeping in a hewed log house. His years were also passed with a growing increase in material wealth, and his surplus was invested in lands, not only in Union Township of Ross County, but also in Pickaway County and in the states of Iowa
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.
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1817, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Ross’ post office opened in 1819.
Ross is more historic than 63% of U.S. towns, #505 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 Ross’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.6 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1972.
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 Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, 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.
