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History · Long Branch

Long Branch dates to 1893, and 19% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1902 on and the census since 1900.

1893founded
0on the National Register
19%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Generic1139 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answers

How Long Branch began

When was Long Branch founded?

1893

Long Branch dates its founding to 1893 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1900.

First census: 273 in 19002020 census: 421133 years
Founding year: Wikidata.The full story ↓

What stands out about Long Branch’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 Long Branch are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19026 editions of the USGS map, 1902 to 1979. Watch Long Branch change.Boom and bustPeaked at 610 in 1980; 421 people lived here in 2020.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Long Branch’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Long Branch’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

Long Branch on the map, 1902 to 1979

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

Long Branch on the 1902 USGS mapLong Branch on the 1931 USGS mapLong Branch on the 1940 USGS mapLong Branch on the 1954 USGS mapLong Branch on the 1969 USGS mapLong Branch on the 1979 USGS map1902Brownsville 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 Long Branch.

People over time

Long Branch, census by census

01002003004005006001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 610

Peaked at 610 in 1980; 421 people lived here in 2020.

13 censuses, 1900–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Long Branch’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Long Branch came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Long Branch.

Read it all →

The area that is now the Borough of Long Branch was formerly a part of Allen Township, which was created by the State Legislature on June 14, 1853. Allen Township also consisted of what are today Speers, Dunlevy, Allenport, Stockdale, Roscoe and Elco Boroughs. As these other towns grew due to the rise of industry along the Monongahela River, with the river and railroad providing transportation, they each were incorporated as their own borough separate from Allen Township. After the other towns separated from the township, the remainder which was the rural land above the river and having no access to river and rail transportation, became the Borough of Long Branch in 1893.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Long Branch, 1893 to 1980

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1893
    FoundingLong Branch is established
  3. 20th century
  4. 1902On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  5. 1980CensusPopulation peaks at 610
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 Long Branch

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

See all →
CoolioAmerican rapper · b. 1963
Christian B. AnfinsenAmerican biochemist · b. 1916
Shirley JonesAmerican singer and actress · b. 1934
James G. BlaineAmerican politician · b. 1830
Ken Griffey Jr.American baseball player · b. 1969
Olive ThomasAmerican silent film actress, model · b. 1894
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

ElcoIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townSpeersIts storyC+AllenportIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townCalifornia4 historic placesADunlevyIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townTwilightIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Long Branch’s history

What year was Long Branch founded?

In 1893, according to Wikidata. the census of 1900 counted 273 people here.

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 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.