Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The Gotham post office opened in 1882, 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 Gotham’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Gotham. 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 Gotham.
From Wikipedia’s history of Gotham.
The name Gotham came from Captain Myron Wheeler Gotham (1842–1902), who once resided in the village. Gotham died with his sons, Lucius and Myron, during a violent storm in the Great Lakes in 1902.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
2016The meticulous Schmidt dairy farm, near the small set…
2016Gotham Wisconsin Sign Looking West WIS60
2016Gotham Wisconsin Downtown WIS60
2009Jack Pines, Gotham Jack Pine Barrens, Wisconsin 1
2009Jack Pine cone, Gotham Jack Pine Barrens, Wisconsin 2
2009Jack Pine cone, Gotham Jack Pine Barrens, Wisconsin 1Nobody well known was born in Gotham itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
The Gotham post office opened in 1882, 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 Wikimedia Commons (5), the Library of Congress (1), Wikipedia and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
