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History · Charlottsville

The history of Charlottsville

Below: maps from 1920 on.

0on the National Register
0.0%homes built before 1940
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What stands out about Charlottsville’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Charlottsville are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19203 editions of the USGS map, 1920 to 1972. Watch Charlottsville change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Charlottsville’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Charlottsville’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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On the map

Charlottsville on the map, 1920 to 1972

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Charlottsville. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Charlottsville on the 1920 USGS mapCharlottsville on the 1963 USGS mapCharlottsville on the 1972 USGS map1920Altoona 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 Charlottsville.

The story so far

Charlottsville, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Charlottsville yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Charlottsville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census. The origin of the name "Charlottsville" is uncertain, but it was in use at least as early as 1859, although the name name "Charlotteville" was used interchangeably.

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
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Famous people

Famous people close to Charlottsville

Nobody well known was born in Charlottsville itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Fred WaringAmerican musician · b. 1900
E
Ethan StiefelAmerican ballet dancer · b. 1973
Farran ZerbeAmerican numismatist · b. 1871
Dick SmithMajor League Baseball infielder · b. 1926
Raymond M. FuossUS chemist · b. 1905
R
Richard IrvinAmerican politician · b. 1971

Questions about Charlottsville’s history

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

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 U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.