Wilmington dates to 1810, and 16% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 89% of U.S. towns · #156 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
6 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 141 buildings between them. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1907 on, and the census since 1820.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1813.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Wilmington’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Wilmington is more historic than 89% of U.S. towns, #156 of 993 in Ohio. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Wilmington’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 Wilmington’s 115 sits above most of its state (94% of Ohio towns have fewer) while its 145 historic buildings outnumber those of 91% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.4 points). Two sources give 1810.
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 Wilmington’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The town of Clinton was founded in 1810 as seat of the newly formed Clinton County; the name was changed to Wilmington in 1811. The village was incorporated in 1828.
In 1833, Wilmington contained a brick courthouse, a jail, 14 stores, two taverns, two groceries, four churches, and 100 residential houses.
Wilmington was featured in Time on December 8, 1997, as a small town that is attractive to suburban families. The city was also showcased in a 1995 publication titled The 100 Best Small Towns in America.
“no.” On June 7, the town council decided to advertise for bids for the construction of the plant. The bids were opened on'July 1, and on July 5, 1889, the council passed an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance, to submit to the qualified voters of the incorporated village of Wilmington, Clinton county, Ohio, the question of ratifying the contract between John P. Martin and his assigns and the incorporated village of Wilmington, supplying water to Wilmington and its inhabitants for fire and other purposes, dated the 5th day of July, A. D. 1889, as then set forth and, contingently upon the ratification of said contract, granting to the said John P. Martin and his assigns the right to lay, relay
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The History of Clinton county, Ohio1882 · page 333Read the page →
Read the text
"no." On June 7, the town council decided to advertise for bids for the construction of the plant. The bids were oi>ened on July 1, and on July 5, 1889, the council passed an ordinance entitled. "An ordinance, to submit to the qualified voters of the Incorporated village of Wilmington, Clinton county, Ohio, the question of ratify lug the contract between John 1*. Martin and his assigns and the incorporated village of Wilmington, supplying water to Wilmington and its inhabitants for fire and other purj>oses, dated the !">th day of July, A. D. 1889. as then set forth and, contingently upon the ratification of said contract, granting to the said John P. Martin and his assigns the right to lay, relay
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The history of Clinton County, Ohio1882 · page 339Read the page →
Read the text
the last-named month, it met at the house of John McGregor, that being the first term hold at the new county seat. October 10, 1811, the following licenses were granted by the court: To Ferguson & Morris, to keep a store in the town of Wilmington; to Warren Sabin, to keep a tavern in Wilmington; and to Asa Holcomb, to “ sell foreign merchandise in the town of Wilmington.’' February 4, 1812, the last will and testament of John Sanders, deceased, was “Hat lun.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The history of Clinton County, Ohio1882 · page 422Read the page →
Read the text
celebration on the premises of Abraham How, in Richland Township. A considerable company was present, a bountiful dinner was partaken of, and numerous toasts were drank. October 13, 1825, Abel Martin, Captain of the “Wilmington Guards,” ordered the company to parade at Wilmington on “ Saturday, the 22d inst., to perform military duty according to law.” A meeting was held December 29, 1825, to consider the project of building a steam gristmill in Wilmington, such an institution being considered necessary. November 25, 1826, Charles Russell advertised a new machine for shelling corn, to
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.
Timeline
Wilmington, 1810 to 1958
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
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 1810, according to Wikidata. Wilmington’s post office opened in 1813, and the census of 1820 counted 235 people here.
How does Wilmington rank for history?
Wilmington is more historic than 89% of U.S. towns, #156 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.
What is on the National Register in Wilmington?
6 listings: 4 buildings, among them the College Hall, Wilmington College (listed 1973, the first), and 2 historic districts, the Wilmington Commercial Historic District and the South South Street Historic District, with 141 contributing buildings. 145 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Wilmington?
16% of Wilmington’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.4 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1977.
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 (5), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (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 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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