Central City Commercial Historic District
National Register of Historic Places

Central City Commercial Historic District

Central City, Linn County, Iowa
Listed
March 18, 2003
Type
District
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
02001027

About this property

The Central City Commercial Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Central City, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. At the time of its nomination it consisted of 27 resources, which included 18 contributing buildings, one contributing object, and eight non-contributing buildings. The historic district exemplifies the importance transportation played in the development of the central business district. Central City was established in 1857. East Main Street and North Fourth Street were part of an early overland road system that was an important transportation corridor in Eastern Iowa. It linked the cities of Marion, Manchester, and Dubuque. Early business leaders in the community were successful in getting the Illinois Central Railroad to lay its tracks through town, which were completed in 1887. Two years later the commercial district was destroyed in a fire. Local entrepreneurs rebuilt the area as quickly as possible. Paul Sigmund, a noted local contractor-builder, built a group of buildings after the fire. The buildings are one- and two-stories in height and are of masonry construction, either brick or concrete block. Several buildings are constructed of wood frame. Several architectural styles are featured in the district including Late Victorian, Prairie School, Commercial style, and Art Deco. All of the buildings were constructed for commercial purposes, but a couple of them have been converted for residential use.

Location

Central City, Linn County, Iowa
42.20444, -91.52471

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTTRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
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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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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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
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Upper Paris Bridge
Industrial
4.1 mi
Coggon Public School
Industrial
5.3 mi
Kirkpatrick, Robert Round Barn
Industrial
6.7 mi
Whittier Friends Meeting House
Industrial
8.3 mi
Matsell Bridge
Industrial
8.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Central City Commercial Historic District listed on the National Register?

Central City Commercial Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 18, 2003.

What type of historic resource is Central City Commercial Historic District?

Central City Commercial Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Central City Commercial Historic District?

The period of significance for Central City Commercial Historic District is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1857.

Can I research the history near Central City Commercial Historic District?

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