Ashwaubenon was first counted by the census in 1980
More historic than 4% of U.S. towns · #360 of 362 in Wisconsin. What drives it
Most of Ashwaubenon was built recently: 2% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1978. Below: maps from 1954 on and the census since 1980.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Ashwaubenon is more historic than 4% of U.S. towns, #360 of 362 in Wisconsin. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Ashwaubenon’s overall grade.
Wisconsin towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Wisconsin town has 3.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Ashwaubenon’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (28% of Wisconsin towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to D. The pre-1940 share (±1.0 points) is firm at this size.
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 →
What stands out about Ashwaubenon’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The U.S. military bought most of the west side of Green Bay, Wisconsin from the Sioux in the 1850s and 1860s, except the area that would later become Ashwaubenon. That land belonged to two daughters of Chief Ashwaubamy, a Sioux chief. They began selling their land to local farmers and landowners in the late 19th century. One of the owners was Jacques Vieau.
One theory of the origins of Ashwaubenon is of Ojibwe origin. It is derived from ashiwabiwining "place where they watch, keep a lookout". Another theory derives the name from Chief Ashwaubamay. In the Menominee language, which is related to the Ojibwe language, the place is known as Es-Wāpanoh, "thither see the dawning".
The Ashwaubenon post office opened in 1980, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Ashwaubenon rank for history?
Ashwaubenon is more historic than 4% of U.S. towns, #360 of 362 in Wisconsin. 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.
How old are the homes in Ashwaubenon?
2% of Ashwaubenon’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.0 points), against a typical 12% for a Wisconsin town; the median home was built in 1978.
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 (9), Wikipedia, 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.
2023
2023
2023
2012
2012
2012
2012
2011
2011
