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–Not graded
History · Mechanicsville

Mechanicsville dates to 1914, and 58% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1889 on, and the census since 1920.

1914founded
0on the National Register
58%homes built before 1940
1old photo or paper
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Mechanicsville’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Mechanicsville began

When was Mechanicsville founded?

1914

Mechanicsville dates its founding to 1914 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1920.

First census: 560 in 19202020 census: 461112 years
Founding year: Wikidata.

What stands out about Mechanicsville’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 1 old photo is in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18896 editions of the USGS map, 1889 to 1994. Watch Mechanicsville change.Old housesHalf of Mechanicsville’s homes were built before 1938.Boom and bustPeaked at 748 in 1940; 463 people lived here in 2020.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Mechanicsville’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo1 archive item has no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewBarn, State Route 23: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Mechanicsville on the map, 1889 to 1994

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

Mechanicsville on the 1889 USGS mapMechanicsville on the 1891 USGS mapMechanicsville on the 1944 USGS mapMechanicsville on the 1968 USGS mapMechanicsville on the 1976 USGS mapMechanicsville on the 1994 USGS map1889Pottsville 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 Mechanicsville.

The story so far

Mechanicsville, in brief

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

Mechanicsville is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. Part of the Pottsville Area School District, it lies between Pottsville and Port Carbon. Pottsville Street is the community's main street. The population was 463 at the time of the 2020 census.

Mechanicsville was established in 1914. Its population held steady between the last two censuses: 457 in 2010, 461 in 2020.

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

Timeline

Mechanicsville, 1889 to 1940

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1889On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  3. 20th century
  4. 1914
    FoundingMechanicsville is established
  5. 1940CensusPopulation peaks at 748
By decade

Mechanicsville, decade by decade

Date unknown1 to date
Barn, State Route 23Date?Barn, State Route 23
Today3 recent
Park St, Mechanicsville, Schuylkill Co PA2015Park St, Mechanicsville, Schuylkill Co PANorwegian St, Mechanicsville, Schuylkill Co PA2015Norwegian St, Mechanicsville, Schuylkill Co PAEmerick St, Mechanicsville, Schuylkill Co PA2015Emerick St, Mechanicsville, Schuylkill Co PA
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Barn, State Route 23
Retake this viewBarn, State Route 23

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Mechanicsville’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Mechanicsville, census by census

0200400600800192019401960198020002020Peak: 748

Peaked at 748 in 1940; 463 people lived here in 2020.

11 censuses, 1920–2020.

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

Famous people

Famous people close to Mechanicsville

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

See all →
Gary S. BeckerAmerican economist · b. 1930
John O'HaraAmerican journalist and writer · b. 1905
M
Matt WachterAmerican musician · b. 1976
R
Ralph PetersAmerican military officer, writer, pundit · b. 1952
Ronald William GainerCatholic bishop · b. 1947
Tim HoldenAmerican politician · b. 1957
Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Port CarbonIts storyA−Pottsville7 historic placesA+Palo AltoIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Mechanicsville’s history

What year was Mechanicsville founded?

In 1914, according to Wikidata. the census of 1920 counted 560 people here.

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
Start a conversation
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 Wikimedia Commons (3), the Library of Congress (1), 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.