Adel Public Square Historic District
National Register of Historic Places

Adel Public Square Historic District

Adel, Dallas County, Iowa
Listed
December 18, 2009
Type
District
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
09000106

About this property

The Adel Public Square Historic District, also known as The Square, is a nationally recognized historic district located in Adel, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. At the time of its nomination it contained 45 resources, which included 35 contributing buildings, one contributing structure, and nine non-contributing buildings. Adel was platted in 1847 as the county seat for Dallas County. The population of the town expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the central business district expanded because of it. It reached its largest size in 1917 with some redevelopment occurring on the east side of the square after World War II. The historic district contains a mix of commercial buildings, professional offices, automotive and farm equipment related businesses, lodge halls, a single-family dwelling, and hatcheries. Civic buildings include the Dallas County Courthouse (1902) and the former post office. Several buildings have been renovated for use by the county for office space. The network of brick streets is the historic structure in the district. The period of significance is from 1868 to 1959, and the buildings were constructed during that time frame. While wood was the earliest building material used, none of those buildings exist and now most of the buildings are brick with a few concrete structures built after World War II.

Location

Adel, Dallas County, Iowa
41.61786, -94.01867

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTCOMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Adel Public Square Historic District

This page lists Adel Public Square Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Dallas County Courthouse
Industrial
0 mi
Adel Bridge
Early Republic
0.4 mi
Dallas County Courthouse (Boundary Increase)
Industrial
0.4 mi
St. Boniface Catholic Church
Industrial
7 mi
Feller, Robert William Andrew, Farmstead
Listed
7.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Adel Public Square Historic District listed on the National Register?

Adel Public Square Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 2009.

What type of historic resource is Adel Public Square Historic District?

Adel Public Square Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Adel Public Square Historic District?

The period of significance for Adel Public Square Historic District is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1847.

Can I research the history near Adel Public Square Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Adel Public Square Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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