Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: maps from 1919 on and old-book passages.
The Clifton post office opened in 1855, the earliest record of the town by name.
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 Clifton’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Clifton. 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 Clifton.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Clifton yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Clifton is a town in Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 733 at the 2020 census.
Its first post office opened in 1855. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 690 to 733 (+6%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Passages that mention Clifton, cut from the printed page as they were published.
spora. During his pastorate in 1869 steps were taken to erect a house of worship on a site presented to the congregation by Fred. Geil, two and one-half miles west from the present village of Clifton, on the old Minnesota stage road. The result was a frame building, 24x36x16 feet in dimensions, which was solemnly dedicated on the 17th of October, 1869, the Rev. Ebert preaching the dedicatory sermon at the altar from the First Book of Kings, eighth chapter, verses 22-30, 54-60, and then expound-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.![spora. During his pastorate in 1869 steps were taken to erect a house of Avorship on a site presented to the congregation by Fred. Geil, t"wo and one-half miles west from the present village of Clifton, on the old ]\Iinnesota stage road. The result was a frame building, 24x.36xl6 feet in dimensions…](https://images.townratings.com/story/35520/bk-46fb2e9e1bb00a36-l.jpg)
spora. During his pastorate in 1869 steps were taken to erect a house of Avorship on a site presented to the congregation by Fred. Geil, t"wo and one-half miles west from the present village of Clifton, on the old ]\Iinnesota stage road. The result was a frame building, 24x.36xl6 feet in dimensions, which was solemnly dedicated on the ITtli of October, 1869, the Rev. Ebert preaching the dedicatory sermon at the altar from the First Book of Kings, eighth chapter, verses 22-30, 54-60, ami then expound-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
In the spring of 1889, by the recommendation of the synod, this parish, comprising four congregations in the eastern section of this county since 1873, divided, St. Peter's at Clifton and Immanuel’s at Dorset forming one charge, and St. Paul's at Wilton and St. Matthew’s at South Ridge the other. The latter at once extended a uninamous call to Rev. J. Ziebell, who aceepted and' took eharge July 6, 1889. Immediately after his installation he settled at Wilton, six miles northwest, from which
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Clifton was one of the early towns being organized by a resolution of the county board on August 14, 1855, and the annual meeting ordered to be held in the home of A. Heath on the first Tuesday in April, 1866. The meeting, however, was held at the home of Tj. A. Farr. The first town officers elected at that time were John Foster, chaii-man: Andrew Lansing and A. H.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological SurveyWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Nobody well known was born in Clifton itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Clifton had its own post office from 1855 to 1902.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
The Clifton post office opened in 1855, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
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). How TownRatings grades history →
From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
