What are some good ways to learn the history of your neighborhood?

Some good ways to learn about a neighborhood's history include visiting the local library to get historical data of the area, looking for original building permits and researching old photos or newspapers. Senior citizens who have lived most of their lives in the neighborhood are another great source of information.

The history of a neighborhood is most likely preserved in the area's public records and files. These records name some of the people who used to live in that area. If these people can be tracked down, they could provide insight into the history of the neighborhood. Studying old maps also helps to identify landscape features and old buildings that were built as the neighborhood was formed.