More historic than 35% of U.S. towns · #802 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
Most of Solon was built recently: 3% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1980. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1906 on, and the census since 1920.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1835.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Solon’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Solon is more historic than 35% of U.S. towns, #802 of 993 in Ohio. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
C
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Solon’s 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 Solon’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.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D to C+. The pre-1940 share (±1.3 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1820.
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 Solon’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
In 1820, the first settlers arrived from Connecticut to live in part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The township was named after Lorenzo Solon Bull, who was the son of Isaac Bull, one of the first settlers. Purportedly, the selection of young Lorenzo's middle name was due to its derivation from the "father of democracy", Solon, the lawmaker of Ancient Greece. The early settlers faced challenges common to pioneers, but in Solon, drainage and wetlands issues complicated settlement and agriculture. Overcoming these obstacles, Solon Township became an arable farming area, producing corn and wheat crops and supporting dairy farm] (including five cheese factories). By 1850, the population of Solon Township reached 1,034.
Passages that mention Solon, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio ...1881 · page 515Read the page →
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parations as circumstances permitted, the two men, in the month of November, 1830, moved their families from Ansom to their new homes; thus becoming the first settlers in the present township of Solon. Although these were the only two families in the township, yet tliey made quite a beginning in the way of settlement, as Mr. Bull had six children and Cajitain Robbins full as many.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers1879 · page 518Read the page →
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In 1878 a narrow gauge railroad was completed from Chagrin Falls to Solon. Its effect in increasing the business of the latter place s yet to be seen. The business places and shops of Solon now comprise the following list: Four general stores, one drug store, one tin shop, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, one shoe shop and one steam sawmill. Of late years dairying has become a leading business of the farmers,
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History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio ..1879 · page 5Read the page →
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The first pioneers located in Orange in 1815 or '16, and an organization was effected in 1820. Solon was settled in the latter year. Bedford was settled in 1813, and Warrensville in 1810. Brecksville liad first been occupied in 1810 and Independence about the same time. Middlebnrg was also settled before the war. The pioneers of all these townships, as well as those pi-eviously settled in the county, were principal-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The first pioneers located in Orange in 1815 or '16, and an organization was effected in 1820. Solon was settled in the latter year. Bedford was settled in 1813. and Warrensville in ISIO. Brecksville had first Ijeen occupied in ISHi and Independence about the same time. Middlcburg was also settled before the war. The pioneers of all these townships, as well as those previously settled in the county, were principal-
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.
In 1820, according to Wikidata. Solon’s post office opened in 1835, and the census of 1920 counted 887 people here.
How does Solon rank for history?
Solon is more historic than 35% of U.S. towns, #802 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 Solon?
3% of Solon’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.3 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1980.
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 (1), the Library of Congress (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), 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.
Date?
2014