Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 14% of U.S. towns. What drives it
Most of West Pelzer was built recently: 8% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1969. Below: maps from 1957 on and the census since 1930.
West Pelzer first appears in the census in 1930.
More historic than 14% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, West Pelzer is more historic than 14% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
South Carolina towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical South Carolina town has 3.2 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so West Pelzer’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (23% of South Carolina towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: the first census (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 →
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 Pelzer’s history is told.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of West Pelzer yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
West Pelzer is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 962 at the 2020 census.
Its first post office opened in 1930. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 880 to 962 (+9%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Weddings 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 Pelzer. 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 Pelzer.
Between 355 and 989 people in every census since 1930.
10 censuses, 1930–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on West Pelzer’s Wikipedia page.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
The West Pelzer post office opened in 1930, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
West Pelzer is more historic than 14% of U.S. towns. 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.
8% of West Pelzer’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.8 points), against a typical 3.5% for a South Carolina town; the median home was built in 1969.
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).
From Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
