Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Sussex dates its founding to 1843 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1880.
More historic than 30% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Sussex is more historic than 30% of U.S. towns, #290 of 362 in Wisconsin. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls 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 Sussex’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: 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 →
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 Sussex’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Sussex. 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 Sussex.
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 SurveyFrom Wikipedia’s history of Sussex.
It was founded in 1843 by George Elliott, a bricklayer from Beckley, East Sussex, and Richard Cooling, a blacksmith from Dorset.
The village was incorporated as Sussex on September 12, 1924 with a population of 387. The election was held August 19, 1924 with a tally of 113 “yes” and 78 “no” votes plus one blank. Frank Grogan served as the first president.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Sussex, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The first school was taught here during the winter of 1849-50, by Mr. Calkins, in the schoolhouse, built in 1849, on Section 26. There is now a very good school in Sussex, Vrith two departments. The old schoolhouse was used as an Episcopal parish school at one time, but is now used for a town hall.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The brewery, which stands about one-half mile north of the mill, on the road from Sussex, was first built by Stephen Stone. In 1862, Mr. Boots became sole owner. Twelve years after, in 1874, Mr. Boots had the misfortune to lose the old brewery by fire. In 1875, it was rebuilt as it now is.
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.
Grew from 131 people in 1880 to 11,487 in 2020, more than tenfold.
11 censuses, 1880–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Sussex’s Wikipedia page.
Sussex’s post office has been open since 1851.
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.
In 1843, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Sussex’s post office opened in 1851, and the census of 1880 counted 131 people here.
Sussex is more historic than 30% of U.S. towns, #290 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.
0.7% of Sussex’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 12% for a Wisconsin town; the median home was built in 1994.
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 (3), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), 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.
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