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History · Ferney

Ferney dates to 1886, and 100% of its homes were built before 1940

1 place in town is on the National Register. Below: maps from 1895 on.

1886founded
1on the National Register
100%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Ferney began

When was Ferney founded?

1886

Ferney dates its founding to 1886 (Wikipedia’s history). Its post office opened in 1887.

2020 census: 42140 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1887.The full story ↓

What stands out about Ferney’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Ferney are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18953 editions of the USGS map, 1895 to 1985. Watch Ferney change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Ferney’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Ferney’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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On the map

Ferney on the map, 1895 to 1985

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

Ferney on the 1895 USGS mapFerney on the 1954 USGS mapFerney on the 1985 USGS map1895Aberdeen sheet · 1:125,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Ferney.

The story

How Ferney came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Ferney.

Read it all →

Ferney was laid out and platted in 1886 by W. H. Ferney, and named for him. According to another tradition, the name is a transfer from Ferney, France. A post office was established at Ferney in 1887, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1984.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

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On the National Register

1 historic place in Ferney

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

place listed
1
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
1
each building in a district counts

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

Stories next door

History across the town line

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

East Hanson Township1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townWest Hanson Township1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Ferney’s history

What year was Ferney founded?

In 1886, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Ferney’s post office opened in 1887.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikipedia and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.