Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1907 on and the census since 1880.
Vanlue dates its founding to 1847 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.
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 Vanlue’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of Vanlue.
The village is 2 miles west from Sheriden Cave, where native habitation was dated to have occurred around 11,000BC.
Vanlue was platted in 1847 by William Vanlue, and named for him. A post office called Vanlue has been in operation since 1850.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Peaked at 539 in 1970; 341 people lived here in 2020.
15 censuses, 1880–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Vanlue’s Wikipedia page.
Passages that mention Vanlue, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The first settlement in this township was made by Thomas Thompson, in 1824, near the Big Springs, about one mile from the present town of Vanlue, and in 1825 John Huff and William Hackney came. They were followed soon after by James Beard, John Shoemaker, Henry George and Thomas Cole. Very soon after these Peter George, James Gibson, John Hewitt and Aquilla Gilbert settled here.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Vanlue, the only village in the township, had its inception May 5, 1847, when William Vanlue laid out a town of 44 lots in the north part of the north half of the northeast quarter of Section {), and named it after himself.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
viua, wife of Samuel Treece, and Sarah A., who was born in this county, and is now the wife of Henry Beck. Daniel Alspach married, September 1 5, 1836, Catharine, daughter of Cornelius Vanlue, whose brother, William, laid out the village of Vanlue, this county. (He afterward moved to Nebraska, and there died.) Cornelius Vanlue settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1828, and moved to Hancock Connty in 1831. Mr. and Mrs.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
which add to the success of the business man, especially the merchant, and among these are a genial and cordial manner and that courtesy which never fails to win and retain customers. One of these popular and prosperous merchants, located in the thriving town of Vanlue, Hancock county, Ohio, IS Joseph J. Herman, who is the proprietor of a general store there.' In the year 1899 he purchased this store from George Alspach and opened it with a fine display of goods in the same year. From the start he had a large patronage, and his numerous customers are increasing daily. His business is
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.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Born hereRalph Dayton Cole is born here
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyEvery edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Vanlue. 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 Vanlue.
Vanlue’s post office has been open since 1850. Another post office, Rocky Ridge, opened and closed inside today’s town.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
In 1847, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Vanlue’s post office opened in 1837, and the census of 1880 counted 364 people here.
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). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (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.
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