More historic than 21% of U.S. towns · #997 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it
Most of Franklin Park was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1986. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1906 on, and the census since 1970.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Franklin Park is more historic than 21% of U.S. towns, #997 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Its age holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Franklin Park’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 Franklin Park’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (25% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1861.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be C−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.0 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 Franklin Park’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 Franklin Park. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1906Sewickley 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 Franklin Park.
Franklin Park was originally part of Western Pennsylvania's Depreciation Lands, but in 1823 residents petitioned to secede from Ohio Township and a new township was formed. In August 1823, the township included land from what is today Franklin Park, Bradford Woods, and Marshall Township. Marshall Township was founded forty years later, while Bradford Woods seceded from Marshall in 1915.
Originally, Franklin Township had no towns, but the area's scattered businesses and residencies (which consisted of farms, schools, country stores and churches) enjoyed a thriving oil and gas industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Subdivisions came after World War II and in August 1961 it finally became a borough.
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.
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Hamlets and corners on the map
Duff City
Gone or out of use
Hopkins Churchchurch
6cemeteries and burying grounds inside Franklin Park
Fairmount Associate Reformed Presbyterian ChurchFranklin Park Baptist ChurchIngomar United MethodistLittle Hill United Methodist ChurchTree of Life Memorial ParkTrinity Lutheran
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Stories next door
History across the town line
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1861, according to Wikidata. the census of 1970 counted 5,310 people here.
How does Franklin Park rank for history?
Franklin Park is more historic than 21% of U.S. towns, #997 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.
How old are the homes in Franklin Park?
5% of Franklin Park’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.0 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1986.
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), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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