Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 27% of U.S. towns. What drives it
Most of La Valle was built recently: 9% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1985. Below: maps from 1956 on and the census since 1880.
More historic than 27% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, La Valle is more historic than 27% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
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 La Valle’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.
Founding year: our sources. 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 →
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 La Valle’s history is told.
From Wikipedia’s history of La Valle.
A post office called La Valle has been in operation since 1856. La Valle is derived from the French meaning "the valley".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention La Valle, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Horse Bluff — An elevation just west of the Village of La Valle named in a peculiar way. H. C. Palmer relates that in an early day several hunters were camped there and while seated around the blazing fire, smoking their pipes, they were startled by the neighing of a horse. Very Digitized by Google
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
After the railroad between La Valle and Cazenovia was opened, the stage was abandoned, as previously narrated in this volume. On December I, 1915, the line was again opened, the service of the railroad not being satisfactory 1o the residents of Ironton and Cazenovia. The line is owned by Jesse Frye, who usually drives. His substitutes are Harry McNamer and Clinton Bernamon.
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.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of La Valle. 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 La Valle.
Between 306 and 448 people in every census since 1880.
15 censuses, 1880–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on La Valle’s Wikipedia page.
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
La Valle is more historic than 27% of U.S. towns. 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.
9% of La Valle’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.8 points), against a typical 12% for a Wisconsin town; the median home was built in 1985.
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).
From Wikimedia Commons (5), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), 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.
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