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History · Greenbackville

Greenbackville dates to 1867, and 69% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1901 on.

1867founded
0on the National Register
69%homes built before 1940
1famous people
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Quick answers

How Greenbackville began

When was Greenbackville founded?

1867

Greenbackville dates its founding to 1867 (Wikipedia’s history). Its post office opened in 1874.

2020 census: 173159 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1874.The full story ↓

What stands out about Greenbackville’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 Greenbackville are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19016 editions of the USGS map, 1901 to 1980. Watch Greenbackville change.Old housesHalf of Greenbackville’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Greenbackville’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Greenbackville’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

Greenbackville on the map, 1901 to 1980

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

Greenbackville on the 1901 USGS mapGreenbackville on the 1943 USGS mapGreenbackville on the 1953 USGS mapGreenbackville on the 1966 USGS mapGreenbackville on the 1973 USGS mapGreenbackville on the 1980 USGS map1901Snow Hill sheet · 1:62,500

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

The story

How Greenbackville came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Greenbackville.

Read it all →

The town was settled in 1867 and was officially named "Greenbackville" by the United States Postal Service in 1874. Greenbackville and neighboring Franklin City, Virginia grew as a result of the railroad line, the Worcester railroad, completed on April 7, 1876 to transport oysters and other shellfish from Chincoteague to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. However, during the course of the 20th century the Depression, the construction of the Chincoteague Causeway, and the nor'easter of 1962 all helped to erode Greenbackville's economic base. The railroad line from the Maryland State line into Franklin City was abandoned in 1956.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Greenbackville, 1867 to 1960

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1867
    FoundingGreenbackville is established
  3. 1874Post officeThe Greenbackville post office opens
  4. 1877Post officeThe Franklin City post office opens
  5. 1879Born hereWalter S. Powell is born here
  6. 20th century
  7. 1901On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  8. 1960Post officeThe Franklin City post office closes
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.

Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
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Places that used to be

Lost post offices and old corners

Greenbackville’s post office has been open since 1874. Another post office, Franklin City, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Greenbackville
1874–today
Franklin City
1877–1960
18701950today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Franklin City

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Captains CoveIts storyD−

Questions about Greenbackville’s history

What year was Greenbackville founded?

In 1867, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Greenbackville’s post office opened in 1874.

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
Start a conversation
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, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) 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.