National Register of Historic Places

Le Mars Downtown Commercial Historic District

Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa
Listed
November 6, 2012
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
12000908

About this property

Le Mars Downtown Commercial Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Le Mars, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. At the time of its nomination the district consisted of 96 resources, including 73 contributing buildings and 23 non-contributing buildings. Le Mars is located in northwest Iowa, which is the last part of the state to be settled. Settlement came with the railroads. The Iowa Falls & Sioux City Railroad was built through the region in 1869 to 1870. In June 1870, the town was platted, and two years later it won an election to move the county seat from Melbourne. It grew to become a regional economic center from the late 19th century through the post-World War II period. The historic district covers most of the city's central business district. The buildings date from c. 1879 to 1958, with historic alterations through 1962. The vast majority of the buildings serve a commercial function, with their second-story housing meeting halls, professional offices, or residential units. Other functions include light industrial, recreational, social, healthcare, and government. They are all masonry construction of red or buff brick and are from one to three stories tall. The buildings reflect the styles from the time they were built.

Location

Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa
42.79409, -96.16676

Categories

COMMERCE
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
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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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
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Le Mars Public Library
Industrial
0.3 mi
Le Mars Central High School
Industrial
0.4 mi
Plymouth County Courthouse
Industrial
0.4 mi
St. George's Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.4 mi
Sacred Heart Hospital
Industrial
0.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Le Mars Downtown Commercial Historic District listed on the National Register?

Le Mars Downtown Commercial Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 6, 2012.

What type of historic resource is Le Mars Downtown Commercial Historic District?

Le Mars Downtown Commercial Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Le Mars Downtown Commercial Historic District?

The period of significance for Le Mars Downtown Commercial Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Le Mars Downtown Commercial 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 Le Mars Downtown Commercial Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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