More historic than 41% of U.S. towns · #740 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
Most of Sylvania was built recently: 6% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1975. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1900 on, and the census since 1880.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1835.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Sylvania’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Sylvania is more historic than 41% of U.S. towns, #740 of 993 in Ohio. Its age holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
C+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Sylvania’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 Sylvania’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.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1833.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to B−. The pre-1940 share (±1.7 points) is firm at this size.
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 Sylvania’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
General David White is considered the founder of Sylvania as the first pioneer settler and town supervisor, originally from Palmyra, New York. In 1832, White was given the title of General (possibly after services rendered during the War of 1812), which allowed him to explore the western Lake Erie region. In realizing the potential of some available land to the north of Maumee, Ohio, a notable port city at the time, he acquired a title to the land and built a log cabin at what would eventually be the corner of Summit and Monroe streets near downtown Sylvania.
Passages that mention Sylvania, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio ..1888 · page 892Read the page →
Read the text
The Village of Sylvania was incorporated in April, 1867, the firstcharter election being held on April 17th, at which the following officers were chosen : James W. Clark, Mayor; Wm.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio ..1888 · page 864Read the page →
Read the text
Jiichficld was originally ])art of Sylvania and S]iringfield Townships, organized under the name of Sylvania, April 2, 1838, from which it was set off April G, 1840, by order of County Commissioners.
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.
By decade
Sylvania, decade by decade
3 decades in the archive, from the 1900s to the 1920s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1833, according to Wikidata. Sylvania’s post office opened in 1835, and the census of 1880 counted 532 people here.
How does Sylvania rank for history?
Sylvania is more historic than 41% of U.S. towns, #740 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 Sylvania?
6% of Sylvania’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.7 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1975.
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 (6), 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, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) 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.
![Jiichficld was originally ])art of Sylvania and S]iringfield Townships, organized under the name of Sylvania, April 2, 1838, from which it was set off April G, 1840, by order of County Commissioners.](https://images.townratings.com/story/13567/bk-c3feec6c6c58aae3-l.jpg)
1910
1910
2012
