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B−History
History · North York

North York dates to 1888, and 46% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 55% of U.S. towns. What drives it

Below: maps from 1908 on and the census since 1900.

1888founded
0on the National Register
46%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How North York began

When was North York founded?

1888

North York dates its founding to 1888 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1900.

First census: 1,185 in 19002020 census: 2,200138 years

How historic is North York?

B−

More historic than 55% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata.
History grade

What drives North York’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, North York is more historic than 55% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.

B−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of North York’s overall grade.
Founding era1888, from Wikidata: founded 1850–1899, an older era than 37% of U.S. townsC+Homes built before 194045.8% of homes (±10.8) · typical PA town 17.7% · U.S. 8.4%A+National RegisterNo listings counted · typical PA town 2.1 per 10,000 · U.S. 2.4C−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 55%
NewerOlder

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 York’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 1888.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to B+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±10.8 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 North York’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 North York are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19086 editions of the USGS map, 1908 to 1990. Watch North York change.Old housesHalf of North York’s homes were built before 1946.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start North York’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

North York on the map, 1908 to 1990

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

North York on the 1908 USGS mapNorth York on the 1910 USGS mapNorth York on the 1954 USGS mapNorth York on the 1968 USGS mapNorth York on the 1973 USGS mapNorth York on the 1990 USGS map1908York 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 North York.

The story so far

North York, in brief

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

North York is a borough, adjacent to the city of York, in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the borough had a total population of 2,196.

North York was established in 1888. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 1,914 to 2,200 (+15%).

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

From the old history books

What they wrote about North York in 1907

Passages that mention North York, cut from the printed page as they were published.

Lyman B. Moody attended the Shrewsbury public schools and Lightner's school house, at North York, later studying two terms at York 'County Academy under Professor Rube\", shaping his course at the latter with the view of becoming' a machinist and engineer. How well he succeeded can be seen by the f…
History of York County Pennsylvania1907 · page 413Read the page →
Read the text

Lyman B. Moody attended the Shrewsbury public schools and Lightner's school house, at North York, later studying two terms at York 'County Academy under Professor Rube\", shaping his course at the latter with the view of becoming' a machinist and engineer. How well he succeeded can be seen by the fact that for four years he was chief engineer at the

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
same township; he also owns a farm of 119 acres in Dover township. Mr. Yost remained on the family homestead about thirty years, building a fine residence in North York borough. He removed thither in 1901, and buying a small tract. of land from Harrj' L. King built thirty-one houses, most of North …
History of York County Pennsylvania1907 · page 551Read the page →
Read the text

same township; he also owns a farm of 119 acres in Dover township. Mr. Yost remained on the family homestead about thirty years, building a fine residence in North York borough. He removed thither in 1901, and buying a small tract. of land from Harrj' L. King built thirty-one houses, most of North York borough standing on his farm. Mr. Yost is

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

North York, decade by decade

Today6 recent
BL 83 nb entering North York, PA, Feb. 20262026BL 83 nb entering North York, PA, Feb. 2026BL 83 nb at Second Avenue, North York, PA, Feb. 20262026BL 83 nb at Second Avenue, North York, PA, Feb. 2026BL 83 nb approaching US 30, Feb. 20262026BL 83 nb approaching US 30, Feb. 2026North York, York Co PA2015North York, York Co PANorth York, York Co PA 22015North York, York Co PA 2North York, Pennsylvania2010North York, Pennsylvania
People over time

North York, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 2,445

Between 1,185 and 2,445 people in every census since 1900.

13 censuses, 1900–2020.

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

Famous people

Famous people close to North York

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

See all →
J. Michael BishopAmerican immunologist and microbiologist who sp… · b. 1936
Jeff KoonsAmerican sculptor and painter · b. 1955
C
Craig ShefferAmerican film and television actor · b. 1960
Jacob L. DeversUnited States Army general · b. 1887
Tina KotekGovernor of Oregon since 2021 · b. 1966
Isaac Newton LewisAmerican soldier and inventor of the Lewis gun · b. 1858
Places that used to be

Places now gone and burying grounds

Gone or out of use
Wilson Elementary Schoolschool
2cemeteries and burying grounds inside North York
LebanonProspect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

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.

Manchester Township4 historic placesB+York17 historic placesA+Spring Garden Township2 historic placesA

Questions about North York’s history

What year was North York founded?

In 1888, according to Wikidata. the census of 1900 counted 1,185 people here.

How does North York rank for history?

North York is more historic than 55% of U.S. towns. 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 North York?

46% of North York’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±10.8 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1946.

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).

From Wikimedia Commons (6), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System 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.