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West Newton Pennsylvania Main Street 2010Photo: Canadian2006 · CC BY-SA 3.0
AHistory
History · West Newton

West Newton dates to 1788, and 39% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 91% of U.S. towns · #167 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it

Its Register listings are the Plumer House and the Dick Building. Below: 6 old photos and papers, maps from 1884 on, and the census since 1850.

1788founded
2on the National Register
39%homes built before 1940
6old photos & papers
4famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From West Newton’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How West Newton began

When was West Newton founded?

1788

West Newton dates its founding to 1788 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1850.

First census: 771 in 18502020 census: 2,665238 years

How historic is West Newton?

A

More historic than 91% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1837.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives West Newton’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, West Newton is more historic than 91% of U.S. towns, #167 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of West Newton’s overall grade.
Founding era1788, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194039.0% of homes (±8.3) · typical PA town 17.7% · U.S. 8.4%ANational Register2 listings, 7.6 per 10,000 residents · typical PA town 2.1 · U.S. 2.4B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 91%
NewerOlder
Pennsylvania towns of 2,500+ (1,035)Ahead of 84%

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 West Newton’s 7.6 sits above most of its state (73% 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 1788.
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 (±8.3 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 West Newton’s past

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

Mapped building by building6 fire insurance maps, 1884 to 1910, drew every building in West Newton.On the map since 19027 editions of the USGS map, 1902 to 1993. Watch West Newton change.Boom and bustPeaked at 3,982 in 1960; 2,665 people lived here in 2020.Old housesHalf of West Newton’s homes were built before 1948.
★ What stands out · Every building

West Newton, building by building, 1884–1910

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.

West Newton fire insurance map, 1884, sheet 11884Sheet 1 of 1
Edition
Sheets
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

On the map

West Newton on the map, 1902 to 1993

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

West Newton on the 1902 USGS mapWest Newton on the 1931 USGS mapWest Newton on the 1940 USGS mapWest Newton on the 1954 USGS mapWest Newton on the 1969 USGS mapWest Newton on the 1979 USGS mapWest Newton on the 1993 USGS map1902Brownsville 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 West Newton.

People over time

West Newton, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0001850190019502000Peak: 3,982

Peaked at 3,982 in 1960; 2,665 people lived here in 2020.

18 censuses, 1850–2020.

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

The story

How West Newton came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of West Newton.

Read it all →

The town traces its roots to 1788, when a group of American pioneers to the Northwest Territory led by Gen. Rufus Putnam traveled overland from Massachusetts and stopped at this location to build boats. They then set out down the Youghiogheny River to the Monogahela and Ohio Rivers, ending their journey and founding the town of Marietta, Ohio. Former names of the town are Simeral's Ferry (also, Sumrill's Ferry), Oswegly (Sewickley) Old Town, and Robbstown. Eighteen miners lost their lives in West Newton in 1901 at the Port Royal Mine.

The Dick Building and Plumer House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about West Newton in 1906

Passages that mention West Newton, cut from the printed page as they were published.

for an active and useful career. In 1881 he engaged in teaming, which occupation proved highly remunerative and which he followed up to 1895, a period of fourteen years. In connection therewith he established a livery business in the town of West Newton, in 1895, which has also proved very successf…
History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania1906Read the page →
Read the text

for an active and useful career. In 1881 he engaged in teaming, which occupation proved highly remunerative and which he followed up to 1895, a period of fourteen years. In connection therewith he established a livery business in the town of West Newton, in 1895, which has also proved very successful, and which is recognized as one of the leading establishments of its kind, receiving the patronage of the best residents of the town. It is well equipped with vehicles suitable for all occasions, and the patrons thereof receive at all times prompt and courteous treatment. Mr. Goehring has served as burgess of the

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
for an active and useful career. In 1881 he engaged in teaming, which occupation proved highly remunerative and which he followed up to 1895, a period of fourteen years. In connection therewith he established a livery business in the town of West Newton, in 1895, which has also proved very successf…
History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania1906 · page 232Read the page →
Read the text

for an active and useful career. In 1881 he engaged in teaming, which occupation proved highly remunerative and which he followed up to 1895, a period of fourteen years. In connection therewith he established a livery business in the town of West Newton, in 1895, which has also proved very successful, and which is recognized as one of the leading establishments of its kind, receiving the patronage of the best residents of the town. It is well equipped with vehicles suitable for all occasions, and the patrons thereof receive at all times prompt and courteous treatment. Mr. Goehring has served as burgess of the

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

West Newton, 1788 to 1986

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

  1. 18th century
  2. 1788
    FoundingWest Newton is established
  3. 19th century
  4. 1837Post officeThe West Newton post office opens
  5. 1877Born hereH. Winnett Orr is born here
  6. 20th century
  7. 1900In the archiveWest Newton, Pennsylvania 1900
  8. 1902On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  9. 1908Born hereVirginia Cuthbert is born here
  10. 1915Born hereBarron Patterson McCune is born here
  11. 1923In the archiveWest Newton PA 1st Presby PHS643
  12. 1936In the archiveHistoric American Buildings Survey, Leo A. McMullen, Photographer May 13, 1936 FLOOR CONS…
  13. 1960CensusPopulation peaks at 3,982
  14. 1986Born hereBen McCauley is born here
By decade

West Newton, decade by decade

3 decades in the archive, from the 1900s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1900s–1930s6 items
West Newton, Pennsylvania 19001900West Newton, Pennsylvania 1900West Newton, Pennsylvania 19001900West Newton, Pennsylvania 1900West Newton PA 1st Presby PHS6431923West Newton PA 1st Presby PHS643West Newton PA United Presby PHS6441923West Newton PA United Presby PHS644Historic American Buildings Survey, Leo A. McMullen, Photographer May 13, 1936 FLOOR CONSTRUCTION (LOOKING UP). - Bells…1936Historic American Buildings Survey, Leo A. McMullen, …Historic American Buildings Survey, Leo A. McMullen, Photographer May 13, 1936 VIEW FROM WEST. - Bells Mill Bridge, Sew…1936Historic American Buildings Survey, Leo A. McMullen, …
1940s–1990snothing yet
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.
Add from your album
Today5 recent
Station west newton pa 20112011Station west newton pa 2011Youghiogheny River at2010Youghiogheny River atWest Newton United Presbyterian Church North Face2010West Newton United Presbyterian Church North FaceWest Newton Pennsylvania Main Street 20102010West Newton Pennsylvania Main Street 2010BuildingAdventureGalley2008BuildingAdventureGalley
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.

West Newton, Pennsylvania 1900
Retake this viewWest Newton, Pennsylvania 1900, 1900

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

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

2 historic places in West Newton

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
2
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
2
each building in a district counts
first listed
1979
Plumer House
Plumer HouseDick Building
Buildings

Architectural styles listings

Late Victorian1
Romanesque1
Plumer HouseBuilding
Dick BuildingLate Victorian

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

4 famous people were born in West Newton

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
B
Ben McCauleyAmerican basketball player · b. 1986
Barron Patterson McCuneUnited States federal judge · b. 1915
V
Virginia CuthbertAmerican artist · b. 1908
H. Winnett OrrAmerican surgeon · b. 1877
Help out

Finish West Newton’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
3 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewWest Newton, Pennsylvania 1900: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

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

South Huntingdon Township1 historic placeA−Rostraver TownshipIts storyB−CollinsburgIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about West Newton’s history

What year was West Newton founded?

In 1788, according to Wikidata. West Newton’s post office opened in 1837, and the census of 1850 counted 771 people here.

How does West Newton rank for history?

West Newton is more historic than 91% of U.S. towns, #167 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 West Newton?

Two places: the Plumer House (listed 1979) and the Dick Building (2007).

How old are the homes in West Newton?

39% of West Newton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±8.3 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1948.

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 (11), 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.