National Register of Historic Places

West Union Commercial Historic District

West Union, Fayette County, Iowa

Listed

May 3, 2015

Type

District

Period

Civil War

Ref No.

15000191

About this property

The West Union Commercial Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in West Union, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. At the time of its nomination the district consisted of 56 resources, including 38 contributing buildings, one contributing structure, and 17 noncontributing buildings. West Union was platted in 1850 and retail businesses began the same year around the public square. The square also served as the center for county government and as a place for many of the community's social activities. The wide streets and sidewalks in the central business district also facilitated the city's commercial and social life. The buildings in the district have housed various commercial businesses, government operations, and churches. The residential buildings are mostly associated with the churches. Most of the buildings are one and two-stories in height, although a couple are three-stories, and built of brick. Most of them are in the revival styles built in the Victorian era, including Italianate, Queen Anne, Neoclassical, and Colonial Revival. There are also buildings designed in the Commercial style. Several buildings were designed by architects, but for the most part the designers are unknown. The city's water tower is the contributing structure. The First Baptist Church (1867), Hobson Block (1885), Maple View Sanitarium (1903), and the Fayette County Courthouse (1923) are all individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location

West Union, Fayette County, Iowa

Everything a full report reveals about West Union Commercial Historic District

This page lists West Union Commercial 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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Questions about this property

When was West Union Commercial Historic District listed on the National Register?

West Union Commercial Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 2015.

What type of historic resource is West Union Commercial Historic District?

West Union Commercial Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for West Union Commercial Historic District?

The period of significance for West Union Commercial Historic District is recorded as the civil_war era.

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

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