National Register of Historic Places

North Geneva Historic District

Geneva, Kane County, Illinois
Listed
March 25, 1982
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
82002549

About this property

The North Geneva Historic District is a set of 161 buildings and structures in Geneva, Illinois. Of those, 150 contribute to the district's historical integrity. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and was slightly enlarged in 2017. The North Geneva Historic District reflects the northern portion of the original settlement, which was home to many prominent early Geneva businessmen as well as the working class. It consists of the area known as the First Ward, roughly bounded by Stevens Street, the (modern day) Union Pacific Railroad on the west, W. State Street to the south, and the Fox River to the east. The west and east sides of the district exhibit architectural similarities. The district is representative of the socioeconomic status of the original settlers. The First Ward was platted in a gridiron pattern with blocks of 300 square feet (28 m2), divided into ten lots of 60 by 100 feet (18 m × 30 m). Lots along the Fox River differ in shape and size. Working-class homes are moderately-sized and stylistically conservative. Most are of frame construction. Oscar and August Wilson were among the more prominent local architects, who admired Frank Lloyd Wright and incorporated Prairie School elements into their otherwise vernacular buildings. 62 of the 150 notable structures are considered to have particular historical or architectural significance. Three of Geneva's first five churches are located in the district. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1979. The nomination form for the historic district singles out several properties that are particularly representative of mid- to late- 19th century architectural styles. 202 N. Fourth Street, built c. 1915, residence for August Wilson, Prairie School 228 N. Fourth Street, built c. 1916, residence for Oscar Wilson, Prairie School United Methodist Church, built 1874 (tower completed 1893), Romanesque Revival Westgrath–Crary House, built 1849, built with riverstone Media related to North Geneva Historic District at Wikimedia Commons National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: North Geneva Historic District

Location

Geneva, Kane County, Illinois
41.88983, -88.30929

Categories

COMMERCEEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURERELIGION
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
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

Pure Oil Station
Industrial
0.1 mi
Central Geneva Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Elizabeth Place
Colonial
0.6 mi
Geneva Country Day School
Industrial
0.7 mi
Riverbank Laboratories
Industrial
1.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was North Geneva Historic District listed on the National Register?

North Geneva Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 25, 1982.

What type of historic resource is North Geneva Historic District?

North Geneva Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for North Geneva Historic District?

The period of significance for North Geneva Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near North Geneva Historic District?

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