Unofficial (starting 1845) and official (starting 1936).
The record of the early championships is open to some interpretation. Chess - The Records by noted British chess historian Ken Whyld lists champions by event.
Year
Venue
Winner
1888
Cincinnati
Showalter, Jackson
1890
St.Louis
Showalter, Jackson
1891
Lexington
Showalter, Jackson
1892
Match
Lipschuetz(, Solomon?)
1895
Match
Showalter, Jackson
1897
Match
Pillsbury, Harry Nelson
1898
Match
Pillsbury, Harry Nelson
1906
Pillsbury death
Showalter, Jackson
1909
Match
Marshall, Frank J.
1923
Match
Marshall, Frank J.
The USCF Yearbook (2001) starts earlier and identifies the strongest player for specific periods.
Year(s)
Venue
Winner
1845-57
Stanley, Charles
1857-71
Morphy, Paul
1871-90
Mackenzie, George H.
1890-91
Showalter, Jackson
1891-94
Lipschutz, Solomon
1894
Showalter, Jackson
1894-95
Hodges, Albert
1895-97
Showalter, Jackson
1897-06
Pillsbury, Harry Nelson
1906-09
Showalter, Jackson
1909-36
Marshall, Frank J.
Year(s)
Venue
Winner(s)
1936
New York
Reshevsky, Samuel
1938
New York
Reshevsky, Samuel
1940
New York
Reshevsky, Samuel
1942
New York
Reshevsky, Samuel
1944
New York
Denker, Arnold
1946
New York
Reshevsky, Samuel
1948
S.Fallsburg
Steiner, Herman
1951
New York
Evans, Larry
1954
New York
Bisguier, Arthur
1957-58
New York
Fischer, Bobby
1958-59
New York
Fischer, Bobby
1959-60
New York
Fischer, Bobby
1960-61
New York
Fischer, Bobby
1961-62
New York
Evans, Larry
1962-63
New York
Fischer, Bobby
1963-64
New York
Fischer, Bobby
1965
New York
Fischer, Bobby
1966
New York
Fischer, Bobby
1968
New York
Evans, Larry
1969
New York
Reshevsky, Samuel
1972
New York
Byrne, Robert
1973
El Paso
Grefe, John; Kavalek, Lubomir
1974
Chicago
Browne, Walter
1975
Oberlin
Browne, Walter
1977
Mentor
Browne, Walter
1978
Pasadena
Kavalek, Lubomir
1980
Greenville
Browne, Walter; Evans, Larry; Christiansen, Larry
1981
South Bend
Browne, Walter; Seirawan, Yasser
1983
Greenville
Browne, Walter; Christiansen, Larry; Dzindzichashvili, Roman
1984
Berkeley
Alburt, Lev
1985
Estes Park
Alburt, Lev
1986
Estes Park
Seirawan, Yasser
1987
Estes Park
de Firmian, Nick; Benjamin, Joel
1988
Cambridge Springs
Wilder, Michael
1989
Long Beach
Dzindzichashvili, Roman; Seirawan, Yasser; Rachels, Stuart
1990
Jacksonville
Alburt, Lev
1991
Los Angeles
Kamsky, Gata
1992
Durango
Wolff, Patrick
1993
Long Beach
Shabalov, Alexander; Yermolinsky, Alex
1994
Key West
Gulko, Boris
1995
Modesto
de Firmian, Nick; Wolff, Patrick; Ivanov, Alexander
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