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Newport Rhode Island Aerial ViewNewport, RI, #1 on this list · Photo: MVASCO · CC BY-SA 3.0
United States · History

Most historic towns in America

Newport, RI and St. Louis, MO share first place on history among 5,235 U.S. towns and cities of 10,000+ residents.

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. The state rank sits beside each letter. How grades work

#T1

Newport, RI

Newport County · 24,251 people
A+

Among the top in the U.S.·#1 of 38 in Rhode Island

#T1

St. Louis, MO

St. Louis city · 278,144 people
A+

Among the top in the U.S.·#1 of 247 in Missouri

#T3

Columbia, PA

Lancaster County · 10,314 people
A+

Among the top in the U.S.·#3 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania

The top 100

Of 5,235 towns and cities of 10,000+ graded on history. Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied). Each state rank links to that state’s full list.

100 towns. Every graded town is on its state’s list.

#TownGrade · state rankCompared with U.S. towns
T1Newport, RINewport County · 24,251 peopleA+#1 of 38 in RIamong the top in the U.S.
T1St. Louis, MOSt. Louis city · 278,144 peopleA+#1 of 247 in MOamong the top in the U.S.
T3Columbia, PALancaster County · 10,314 peopleA+#3 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T3Easton, PANorthampton County · 30,402 peopleA+#3 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T3Lancaster, PALancaster County · 58,366 peopleA+#3 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T3Newburgh, NYOrange County · 28,059 peopleA+#2 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T3Newburyport, MAEssex County · 19,148 peopleA+#1 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T3Pigeon Township, INVanderburgh County · 26,995 peopleA+#1 of 593 in INamong the top in the U.S.
T3York, PAYork County · 45,342 peopleA+#3 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T10Baltimore, MDBaltimore city · 569,997 peopleA+#1 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T10Eel Township, INCass County · 18,549 peopleA+#2 of 593 in INamong the top in the U.S.
T10Haddonfield, NJCamden County · 12,740 peopleA+#3 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T10Harrisburg, PADauphin County · 50,522 peopleA+#9 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T10Johnstown, PACambria County · 17,654 peopleA+#9 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T10New London, CTNew London County · 28,003 peopleA+#1 of 155 in CTamong the top in the U.S.
T10Pittsburgh, PAAllegheny County · 307,632 peopleA+#9 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T10Providence, RIProvidence County · 195,310 peopleA+#2 of 38 in RIamong the top in the U.S.
T10Reading, PABerks County · 95,832 peopleA+#9 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T10South Orange Village Township, NJEssex County · 19,139 peopleA+#3 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T10Warren, RIBristol County · 11,070 peopleA+#2 of 38 in RIamong the top in the U.S.
T10Wheeling, WVOhio County · 25,680 peopleA+#1 of 61 in WVamong the top in the U.S.
T22Marblehead, MAEssex County · 20,583 peopleA+#3 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T22New Haven, CTNew Haven County · 138,774 peopleA+#2 of 155 in CTamong the top in the U.S.
T22North Adams, MABerkshire County · 12,368 peopleA+#3 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T22Salem, MAEssex County · 45,381 peopleA+#3 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T22Trenton, NJMercer County · 91,506 peopleA+#7 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T27Albany, NYAlbany County · 101,698 peopleA+#7 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T27Camden, NJCamden County · 71,430 peopleA+#8 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T27Carlisle, PACumberland County · 22,693 peopleA+#19 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T27Center Township, INMarion County · 155,258 peopleA+#5 of 593 in INamong the top in the U.S.
T27Hartford, CTHartford County · 121,981 peopleA+#4 of 155 in CTamong the top in the U.S.
T27Kingston, NYUlster County · 23,942 peopleA+#7 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T27Norwich, CTNew London County · 40,001 peopleA+#4 of 155 in CTamong the top in the U.S.
T27Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia County · 1,574,281 peopleA+#19 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T27Portland, MECumberland County · 69,911 peopleA+#2 of 143 in MEamong the top in the U.S.
T27Pottstown, PAMontgomery County · 23,322 peopleA+#19 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T27Williamsport, PALycoming County · 27,384 peopleA+#19 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T38Center Township, INClinton County · 17,577 peopleA+#6 of 593 in INamong the top in the U.S.
T38Detroit, MIWayne County · 649,095 peopleA+#1 of 701 in MIamong the top in the U.S.
T38Hanover, PAYork County · 16,684 peopleA+#24 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T38New Bedford, MABristol County · 101,834 peopleA+#10 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T38New Orleans, LAOrleans Parish · 362,154 peopleA+#1 of 161 in LAamong the top in the U.S.
T38Racine, WIRacine County · 77,908 peopleA+#1 of 362 in WIamong the top in the U.S.
T38Washington, PAWashington County · 13,377 peopleA+#24 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T38Waynesboro, PAFranklin County · 11,190 peopleA+#24 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T38Wilkes-Barre, PALuzerne County · 44,523 peopleA+#24 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T38Windham, CT24,139 peopleA+#6 of 155 in CTamong the top in the U.S.
T48Brookline, MANorfolk County · 63,414 peopleA+#11 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T48Poughkeepsie, NYDutchess County · 32,499 peopleA+#12 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T48Schenectady, NYSchenectady County · 69,471 peopleA+#12 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T48Swampscott, MAEssex County · 15,183 peopleA+#11 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T48Vincennes, INKnox County · 16,378 peopleA+#8 of 593 in INamong the top in the U.S.
T48Wilmington, DENew Castle County · 73,512 peopleA+#2 of 37 in DEamong the top in the U.S.
T54Boston, MASuffolk County · 672,973 peopleA+#13 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T54Decatur Township, ILMacon County · 45,203 peopleA+#2 of 768 in ILamong the top in the U.S.
T54Gloucester, MAEssex County · 30,627 peopleA+#13 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T54Milton, MANorfolk County · 28,537 peopleA+#13 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T54Newton, MAMiddlesex County · 90,741 peopleA+#13 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T54Piqua, OHMiami County · 21,064 peopleA+#6 of 993 in OHamong the top in the U.S.
T54Stonington, CT18,832 peopleA+#7 of 155 in CTamong the top in the U.S.
T61Bridgeton, NJCumberland County · 28,307 peopleA+#10 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T61Burlington, NJBurlington County · 10,243 peopleA+#10 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T61Hagerstown, MDWashington County · 44,228 peopleA+#2 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T61Noble Township, INWabash County · 13,633 peopleA+#12 of 593 in INamong the top in the U.S.
T61Olean, NYCattaraugus County · 13,508 peopleA+#18 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T61Richmond, VARichmond city · 237,257 peopleA+#1 of 253 in VAamong the top in the U.S.
T61Upper Township, OHLawrence County · 13,816 peopleA+#7 of 993 in OHamong the top in the U.S.
T61View Park-Windsor Hills, CAunincorporated, Los Angeles County · 11,230 peopleA+#1 of 847 in CAamong the top in the U.S.
T61Wayne Township, INAllen County · 111,761 peopleA+#12 of 593 in INamong the top in the U.S.
T61Winchester, MAMiddlesex County · 23,710 peopleA+#18 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T71Bethlehem, PANorthampton County · 79,644 peopleA+#33 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T71Cambridge, MAMiddlesex County · 122,588 peopleA+#20 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T71Chelsea, MASuffolk County · 40,130 peopleA+#20 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T71Fall River, MABristol County · 95,298 peopleA+#20 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T71Lowell, MAMiddlesex County · 119,971 peopleA+#20 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T76Bennington, VTBennington County · 14,953 peopleA+#6 of 71 in VTamong the top in the U.S.
T76Central Falls, RIProvidence County · 23,124 peopleA+#4 of 38 in RIamong the top in the U.S.
T76Oak Park, ILCook County · 52,823 peopleA+#3 of 768 in ILamong the top in the U.S.
T76Passaic, NJPassaic County · 71,337 peopleA+#12 of 468 in NJamong the top in the U.S.
T76St. Augustine, FLSt. Johns County · 16,141 peopleA+#1 of 638 in FLamong the top in the U.S.
T81Brattleboro, VTWindham County · 11,872 peopleA+#7 of 71 in VTamong the top in the U.S.
T81Phoenixville, PAChester County · 20,356 peopleA+#41 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T81Rock Island Township, ILRock Island County · 15,632 peopleA+#4 of 768 in ILamong the top in the U.S.
T81Wawarsing, NYUlster County · 12,448 peopleA+#23 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T85Augusta, MEKennebec County · 19,155 peopleA+#7 of 143 in MEamong the top in the U.S.
T85Hamtramck, MIWayne County · 27,261 peopleA+#3 of 701 in MIamong the top in the U.S.
T85New York City, NYKings County · 8,584,629 peopleA+#25 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T85Northampton, MAHampshire County · 31,047 peopleA+#30 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T85Sault Ste. Marie, MIChippewa County · 13,083 peopleA+#3 of 701 in MIamong the top in the U.S.
T85Springfield, MAHampden County · 154,702 peopleA+#30 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T91Bay City, MIBay County · 31,868 peopleA+#5 of 701 in MIamong the top in the U.S.
T91Newport, KYCampbell County · 13,998 peopleA+#1 of 142 in KYamong the top in the U.S.
T91Portsmouth, NHRockingham County · 23,028 peopleA+#5 of 126 in NHamong the top in the U.S.
T91Rome, NYOneida County · 31,682 peopleA+#28 of 758 in NYamong the top in the U.S.
T91Vincennes Township, INKnox County · 21,431 peopleA+#17 of 593 in INamong the top in the U.S.
T96Cleveland, OHCuyahoga County · 363,608 peopleA+#10 of 993 in OHamong the top in the U.S.
T96Greensburg, PAWestmoreland County · 14,462 peopleA+#51 of 1,035 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T96Ipswich, MAEssex County · 14,131 peopleA+#33 of 283 in MAamong the top in the U.S.
T96Logansport, INCass County · 18,287 peopleA+#18 of 593 in INamong the top in the U.S.
T96Plainfield, CT15,381 peopleA+#9 of 155 in CTamong the top in the U.S.
Quick answers

Questions people ask

How are these towns ranked?

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. The national list starts at 10,000 residents; state lists start at 2,500. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

This page shows the top 100 of 5,235 towns of 10,000+ with a history grade. Every town of 2,500+ is ranked on its state’s list, and smaller towns show the grade on their own page.

Other states

Most historic towns, state by state

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