On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Wilson is more historic than 63% of U.S. towns, #570 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
B
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Wilson’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 Wilson’s 3.7 sits near the middle of its state (63% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 3 historic buildings outnumber those of 65% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±7.7 points). Two sources give 1914.
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 Wilson’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Wilson Borough is named after former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. First formed as a township on February 10, 1913 during the first half of 1920, a number of property owners solicited the courts to change the form of government from a township to that of a borough.
According to the 1920 book, History of the Northampton County (Pennsylvania) and the Grand Valley of Lehigh, by the American Historical Association, supervised and revised by William J. Heller, the township was consummated by the courts in 1914, but the court case of Palmer School District v. Wilson School District indicates the township's formation occurred on February 10, 1913.
Passages that mention Wilson, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh under supervision and revision of William J. Heller, assisted by an advisory board of editors..1920Read the page →
Read the text
Wilson Tozunship — The agitation for incorporating a new township from Palmer township was consummated by the courts in 1914. This new sister to the galaxy of Northampton townships was named Wilson, in honor of Woodrow Wilson. The first supervisors appointed by the courts were William Hookway, James Martin, and William Moser. The present board of supervisors are : David Stout, Harry Transue, John A. Yohe, E. O. Correll, and Floyd Young. The borough adjoins the city of Fasten on the east, is bounded on the south by the borough of West Easton, on the north and west
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Genealogies, necrology, and reminiscences of the "Irish settlement," or A record of those Scotch-Irish Presbyterian families who were the first settlers in the "Forks of Delaware," now Northampton County, Pennsylvania--a sequel to the "History of the Alle1879Read the page →
Read the text
which was long known by the name of ‘the Craig Settlement’ extended from the Menakasy on the east, to the Ilockendaucpia and the Lehigh on the west. Hugh Wilson erected a grist mill on the Hockcudauqua creek as early as 1740. He and the Craig brotbers were tlie Kiost influential among , this people. Names
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
Wilson, 1890 to 1923
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
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.
In 1914, according to Wikidata. the census of 1920 counted 5,196 people here.
How does Wilson rank for history?
Wilson is more historic than 63% of U.S. towns, #570 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 Wilson?
One place: the Dixie Cup Company Complex (listed 2026).
How old are the homes in Wilson?
54% of Wilson’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.7 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1938.
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 (8), the National Register of Historic Places (1), 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 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.
1902
2024
2024
2024
2014
2009