Northumberland dates to 1772, and 37% of its homes were built before 1940
Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns · #31 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it
3 places in town are on the National Register, among them the Joseph Priestley House, a National Historic Landmark, and a historic district with 161 buildings. Below: 4 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1830.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1795.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Northumberland’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Northumberland is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #31 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All 3 inputs put Northumberland near the top nationally; its age ranks highest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Northumberland’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 Northumberland’s 422 sits above most of its state (94% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 163 historic buildings outnumber those of 92% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1772.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±6.7 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 Northumberland’s past
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 Northumberland. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1893Sunbury 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 Northumberland.
A brewer named Reuben Haines, a native of Philadelphia, founded the town of Northumberland in 1772, attempting to set it up as an English village. The land that became Northumberland was purchased from the Iroquois in the first Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768, and the village was laid out in 1772. During the American Revolution, Northumberland was evacuated during the Big Runaway in 1778, and only finally resettled in 1784.
Passages that mention Northumberland, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History and topography of Northumberland, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre, Union, Columbia, Juniata and Clinton counties, Pa.1847 · page 272Read the page →
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There are three bridges across the West Branch of the Susquehanna within the bounds of this county; the State bridge at Northumberland, and two company bridges in which the State holds stock, one at Milton and the other at Lewisburg. Besides these, there are bridges over all the principal streams, when crossed by the main roads.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History and topography of Northumberland, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre, Union, Columbia, Juniata and Clinton counties, Pa.1847 · page 151Read the page →
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Overlying the red shale is a belt of limestone extending also on both sides of the ridge ; that on the south side appearing near the West Branch, about four miles above the town of Northumberland, and extending towards the North Branch below Danville. South of this are hills containing olive slate and gray sandstone, which extend over the country above Northumberland, southward and southeastward to the range called Shamokin Hills, and also in and beyond the val-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. With illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories. From original sketches by artists of the highest ability.1876Read the page →
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For the year 1875, there was sent from Northumberland Countj', one million six hundred and twenty-eight thousaud six hundred and eighty-three tons of coal. More than one-half of this tonnage passed over the Philadelpliia and Reading "Railroad.
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.
Timeline
Northumberland, 1772 to 1965
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born 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 1772, according to Wikidata. Northumberland’s post office opened in 1795, and the census of 1830 counted 1,090 people here.
How does Northumberland rank for history?
Northumberland is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #31 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 Northumberland?
Three places: the Joseph Priestley House (listed 1966), the Dr. Joseph Priestley House (1981) and the Northumberland Historic District (1988).
How old are the homes in Northumberland?
37% of Northumberland’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.7 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1949.
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 (3), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (3), 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.
★ Landmark
1849
1859
