Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1910 on and the census since 1870.
West Sunbury dates its founding to 1828 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1870.
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how West Sunbury’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of West Sunbury.
On the morning of December 25, 2022, the borough's primary marketplace burnt down. This significantly impacted most of the residents, as the next closest general store was in a neighboring town.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Peaked at 283 in 1910; 182 people lived here in 2020.
16 censuses, 1870–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on West Sunbury’s Wikipedia page.
Passages that mention West Sunbury, cut from the printed page as they were published.
On October IS. 1847, articles of association were adopted by the society, to whom, on October 23, 1848, a certificate of incorporation under the name of "The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of West Sunbury" was issued. The petition asking for the incorporation of the church was signed by Samuel Loudon, Joseph W. Christy and John Brewster. In 1850 there were 184 communicants reported; in April. 1853, 136, and in ls.">7, 151. In I860 Allen Wilson, J. G. Christy. Robert Dunn and Andrew Thnblin were elected elders.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
This township is drained by Muddycreek, which rises near West Sunbury and flows westward through the southern half, and by tributaries of Slippery Rock Creek which rise north of West Sunbury and flow northward. A small area in the southern corner is drained by the tributaries of Connoquenessing Creek.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
West Sunbury, in Clay Township, had its origin before the Civil War. It was famous for many years on account of the West Sunbury Academy, which was located at this place, at which many men afterwards prominent in civic, professional and ecclesiastical circles in Butler County and Western Pennsylvania, received their academic training.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
THIS township, which was organized in 1854, was named in honor of Henry Clay, Kentucky's distinguished orator and statesman. It lies directly north of the center of the county, and is marked by high summits, such as that immediately south of West Sunbury, the peak about 7, 000 feet to the northwest of the borough, and that just south of the Sunbury and West Liberty road. Each is at least 1,400 feet above ocean level, and from 250 to 300 feet above the bottom of Muddy creek, which rises near West Sunbury, and flowing westward through the south half of the township, crosses the township line at a point west 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.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Born hereBob Glenn is born here
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of West Sunbury. 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 West Sunbury.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
In 1828, according to Wikidata. West Sunbury’s post office opened in 1890, and the census of 1870 counted 216 people here.
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). How TownRatings grades history →
From 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 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.
