Portsmouth dates to 1752, and 12% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 92% of U.S. towns · #13 of 253 in Virginia. What drives it
23 places in town are on the National Register, among them 2 National Historic Landmarks and six historic districts with 2,234 buildings between them. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1888 on, and the census since 1840.
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Portsmouth’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Portsmouth is more historic than 92% of U.S. towns, #13 of 253 in Virginia. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Portsmouth’s overall grade.
Virginia towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Virginia town has 3.6 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Portsmouth’s 232 sits above most of its state (80% of Virginia towns have fewer) while its 2,255 historic buildings outnumber those of 99% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A+. The pre-1940 share (±1.2 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1752.
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 →
What stands out about Portsmouth’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. 2 are National Historic Landmarks, the highest tier. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.
In 1620, the future site of Portsmouth was recognized as a suitable shipbuilding location by John Wood, a shipbuilder, who petitioned King James I of England for a land grant. The surrounding area was soon settled as a plantation community.
Portsmouth was founded by Colonel William Crawford, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. It was established as a town in 1752 by an act of the Virginia General Assembly and was named for Portsmouth, England.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Portsmouth. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1921Newport News 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 Portsmouth.
Every building
Portsmouth, building by building, 1888–1920
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1752, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1840 counted 6,477 people here.
How does Portsmouth rank for history?
Portsmouth is more historic than 92% of U.S. towns, #13 of 253 in Virginia. 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.
What is on the National Register in Portsmouth?
23 listings, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks: 13 buildings, 6 historic districts with 2,234 contributing buildings, 1 site, 2 structures, and 1 object. 2,255 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Portsmouth?
12% of Portsmouth’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.2 points), against a typical 1.9% for a Virginia town; the median home was built in 1967.
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 (5), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (23), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
★ Landmark
★ Landmark
1775
1785
