Berwick dates to 1769, and 36% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 95% of U.S. towns · #120 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it
Its Register listings are the Jackson Mansion and Carriage House and the Berwick Armory. Below: 12 old photos and papers, maps from 1884 on, and the census since 1820.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1800.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Berwick’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Berwick is more historic than 95% of U.S. towns, #120 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Berwick’s overall grade.
Pennsylvania towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Pennsylvania town has 2.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Berwick’s 2.9 sits near the middle of its state (61% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 3 historic buildings outnumber those of 65% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1769.
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 (±6.9 points).
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 Berwick’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Berwick. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1894Shickshinny sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Berwick.
Every building
Berwick, building by building, 1884–1918
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
Berwick was founded by Evan Owen, a Welsh Quaker and surveyor. He was the son of Hugh Owen from Trefeglwys, Montgomeryshire, Wales. Berwick was named after Berwick-upon-Tweed, England. Situated on the north bank of the Susquehanna River, the borough was first settled in 1769, founded in 1786, and incorporated in 1818.
Light and heavy manufacturing industries, such as American Car and Foundry Company and Wise Potato Chips, were established in Berwick, which consolidated with the borough of West Berwick in 1917. The population of Berwick in 1910 was 5,357. In 1920, after consolidation, the population was 12,181. In 1950, the population peaked at 14,010. The population was 10,477 at the 2010 census.
Passages that mention Berwick, cut from the printed page as they were published.
A history of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. From the earliest times.1883 · page 65Read the page →
Read the text
with the wrecks of unfortunate local politicians who had mistaken the temper of the people, or were themselves the mere tools of more designing intriguers. Thus the astute politicians of Danville played off the Borough of Berwick against Bloomsburg ; at one time by proposing a new county to be composed of parts of Columbia and Luzerne, with the Capitol at Berwick, at another by threatening to go solid for removal, but making it to be to Berwick instead of to Bloomsburg. Party politics were lost
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
A history of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. From the earliest times.1883 · page 98Read the page →
Read the text
In 1850 atelegrajih line was constructed through Berwick; in 1858 the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg railroad was opened; in 1861 Jackson & Woodin began the manufacture of car wheels, and the construction of cars soon followed, and within ten years the rolling mill was erected. Then business, trade and population poured into Berwick. Jackson's block was erected and many handsome residences were built. A bank was chartered in 1864 and has been conducted with great judgment and success.
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
Berwick, 1769 to 1986
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 1769, according to Wikidata. Berwick’s post office opened in 1800, and the census of 1820 counted 317 people here.
How does Berwick rank for history?
Berwick is more historic than 95% of U.S. towns, #120 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. 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 Berwick?
Two places: the Jackson Mansion and Carriage House (listed 1985) and the Berwick Armory (1991).
How old are the homes in Berwick?
36% of Berwick’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.9 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1954.
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), the Library of Congress (6), the National Register of Historic Places (2), 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.
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