Media dates to 1681, and 28% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 92% of U.S. towns · #147 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it
Its Register listings are the Media Armory and the Dr. Samuel D. Risley House. Its Register listings are the Media Armory and the Dr. Samuel D. Risley House. Below: 12 old photos and papers, maps from 1887 on, and the census since 1850.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1852.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Media’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Media is more historic than 92% of U.S. towns, #147 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Media’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 Media’s 3.4 sits near the middle of its state (62% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 2 listings outnumber those of 60% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1681.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±4.9 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 Media’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The history of the area goes back to William Penn, but the area remained predominantly rural until the 20th century.
Land in the area was sold and settled soon after William Penn was named proprietor of the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania in 1681 by King Charles II of England. Peter and William Taylor bought the land where Media is now located, directly from Penn. At the time, the land was located in Chester County. Providence Township was organized in 1684, and later divided into Upper Providence and Nether Providence townships by 1690, even though they only had 40 taxable properties at the time. The current borough, formed in 1850, sits between the two townships.
Passages that mention Media, cut from the printed page as they were published.
A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people1914Read the page →
Read the text
He was well educated and for five years was a teacher in the Westtown Boarding School. He obtained a knowledge of mills and milling from association with his father and later purchased the Media grist and saw mills, which he successfully operated for several years. He then sold his water privileges and power to the borough of Media for the establishment of a water works system for that borough, and established a retail ice business in Media that was so successful that it was continued by his widow for several years.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania1884 · page 656Read the page →
Read the text
repaired and enlarged. The church was under the same charge with Mount Hope Church, and both were in Village Green Circuit. This church, with South Media Chapel, were erected as a station in March, 1877, and as a single station in 1878. The pastors from that time have been Revs. N. Turner, George Alcorn, and Albert Hood, who is the present pastor.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania1884 · page 587Read the page →
Read the text
Foe nearly a century and three-quarters after the first settlers came to the region in which Media was destined to be developed, the charming site of the now beautiful town was settled sparsely like other agricultural districts of the county, and no prophetic vision of the seat of justice that was to be, obtruded itself among the pastoral musings of the quiet, plodding farmers, whose broad acres are now so thickly
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people1914 · page 968Read the page →
Read the text
ware county, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1861. He received his preparatory education in the township schools and in 1876-77 attended the Westtown boarding school. He returned home and was engaged in farm work with his father until 1885, and on the retirement of the latter he accompanied him to Media. He entered the Veterinary Department of the State University, and on graduation located in Media, Pennsylvania: in 1895 he moved to Salem, New Jersey, remaining there five years, during which time he established himself in a lucrative practice. At the expiration of that time he went to Chester, Pennsylvania,
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.
By decade
Media, decade by decade
7 decades in the archive, from the 1850s to the 1960s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
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.
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1681, according to Wikidata. Media’s post office opened in 1852, and the census of 1850 counted 285 people here.
How does Media rank for history?
Media is more historic than 92% of U.S. towns, #147 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.
What is on the National Register in Media?
Two places: the Media Armory (listed 1989) and the Dr. Samuel D. Risley House (1990).
How old are the homes in Media?
28% of Media’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.9 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1959.
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 (7), the Library of Congress (5), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, 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, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) 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.
1860
1860
1860
1900
1966
1966
