Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1902 on and the census since 1860.
Elderton dates its founding to 1822 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1860.
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 Elderton’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Elderton. 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 Elderton.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyWikipedia doesn’t have a history of Elderton yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Elderton is a borough in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 334 at the 2020 census.
Elderton was established in 1822. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 356 to 334 (-6%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Passages that mention Elderton, cut from the printed page as they were published.
SCHOOLS As early as 1826 an organization existed in Elderton called the "New Middletown Schoolhouse Stockholders," who built in 1828 a schoolhouse, the first teacher being Josiah Elder. On the site of this frame school is located a fine brick public schoolhouse.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
and Indiana one hundred years ago was that kept by Absalom Woodward at the point now called Idaho. The office was discontinued when that at Elderton was opened. The I'Vantz' Mills post office was established in 1843, w'ith James Mitchell as the official in charge. This latter office was at the point on the creek now known as South Bend. James
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
and Allison. The last-named was a surgeon in the army during the war of the rebellion, and for several years past, he and his son, a native of Elderton, have practiced in Kittanning. It was in Elderton that Dr. David Alter first experimented in telegraphing, respecting which he says in a recent letter to the present writer : "In 1836, while engaged in experimenting in
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
1803 a log schoolhouse about 125 rods west of Cherry Run, and nearly a mile southeast of Whitesburgh, near the road from Kittanning to Elderton, on land now occupied bj' Peter George; one in the southwestern part of the township, on land now occupied by J. Roley, the teacher in which was Cornelius Roley.
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.
Between 196 and 428 people in every census since 1860.
17 censuses, 1860–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Elderton’s Wikipedia page.
Elderton’s post office has been open since 1824.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
In 1822, according to Wikidata. Elderton’s post office opened in 1824, and the census of 1860 counted 196 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 (5), 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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