Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 55% of U.S. towns · #678 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it
Below: 6 old photos and papers, maps from 1894 on, and the census since 1870.
North Wales dates its founding to 1869 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1870.
More historic than 55% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, North Wales is more historic than 55% of U.S. towns, #678 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
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 North Wales’ 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.
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 →
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 North Wales. 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 North Wales.
From Wikipedia’s history of North Wales.
As its name suggests, North Wales was settled by Welsh immigrants who named it after North Wales. Part of a 1702 land grant by William Penn, the area was then a rich farming country named Gwynedd for the homeland of the earliest settlers. It began as a pastoral village in agricultural Gwynedd Township.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention North Wales, cut from the printed page as they were published.
needed repairs, and in consequence the German Reformed congregation decided to remove and erect a house of worship for themselves in the adjacent village of North Wales. This agitated the Lutheran congregation, who finally determined on the same course. The latter, in the spring of 1867, commenced Subscriptions with such success that a lot was also secured within the limits of the present borough, and
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
agriculture a study and a success, was born on the farm he now owns, July 20, 1820. His early life was spent upon the old homestead farm, half a mile from the town of North Wales, and his educational advantages were such as the common schools of that period afforded.
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.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
In the archiveMilford, North Wales, Pennsylvania title QS:P1476,en:"Milford, North Wales, Pennsylvania …
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
Born hereChristie Shaner is born here
Born hereJoe McKeehen is born here
In the archiveElevation view of rear of building taken from the northwest - J. Weingartner and Son Ciga…2 decades in the archive, from the 1830s to the 1990s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
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.
1909Sheet 1 of 7Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Between 407 and 3,911 people in every census since 1870.
16 censuses, 1870–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on North Wales’ Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.
In 1869, according to Wikidata. the census of 1870 counted 407 people here.
North Wales is more historic than 55% of U.S. towns, #678 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.
47% of North Wales’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±9.7 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1943.
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).
From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), 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.
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