Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 6% of U.S. towns. What drives it
Most of Ballard was built recently: 2% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 2000. Below: maps from 1917 on and the census since 1980.
Ballard dates its founding to 1905 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1980.
More historic than 6% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Ballard is more historic than 6% of U.S. towns. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
Utah towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Utah town has 3.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Ballard’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (18% of Utah towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
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 →
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 Ballard’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Ballard. 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 Ballard.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Ballard yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Ballard ( BAL-ərd) is a city in Uintah County, Utah, United States. The population was 801 at the 2010 census, an increase from the 2000 population of 566.
Ballard was established in 1905. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 801 to 1,131 (+41%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Grew from 558 people in 1980 to 1,130 in 2020.
5 censuses, 1980–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Ballard’s Wikipedia page.
Nobody well known was born in Ballard itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
In 1905, according to Wikidata. the census of 1980 counted 558 people here.
Ballard is more historic than 6% 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.
2% of Ballard’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.4 points), against a typical 2.8% for an Utah town; the median home was built in 2000.
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 Wikimedia Commons (1), 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.
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