National Register of Historic Places

Paxton Water Tower and Pump House

Paxton, Ford County, Illinois
Listed
November 13, 1984
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
84000302

About this property

The Paxton Water Tower and Pump House are a historic water tower and pump house located at 145 S. Market St. in Paxton, Illinois. The buildings were built in 1887 to provide a steady water supply to Paxton. Prior to their construction, Paxton had considerable difficulty with its water supply; a fire which destroyed much of the city's downtown in 1870 had been exacerbated by the fire department's low water supply, and an artesian well project started in 1872 was unsuccessful. The new water tower and pump house were the first in a series of infrastructure improvements which spurred the economic development of Paxton. The two buildings were built with brick. The octagonal water tower is 80 feet (24 m) tall. There used to be a water tank on top of the pump house tower which was missing for many years. A replica of the original water tank was installed in August, 2025. The buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It is one of four sites on the National Register in Paxton and one of five in Ford County.

Location

145 S. Market St.
Paxton, Ford County, Illinois
40.45998, -88.09690

Categories

ENGINEERINGARCHITECTURE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Paxton Water Tower and Pump House

This page lists Paxton Water Tower and Pump House. 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Paxton Water Tower and Pump House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Paxton Carnegie Public Library
Industrial
0.1 mi
Dunnan-Hampton House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Paxton First Schoolhouse
Industrial
0.7 mi
Smith, A. Herr and E. E., Public Library
Industrial
4.3 mi
Chanute Field Historic District
Colonial
11.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Paxton Water Tower and Pump House listed on the National Register?

Paxton Water Tower and Pump House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Paxton Water Tower and Pump House?

Paxton Water Tower and Pump House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Paxton Water Tower and Pump House?

The period of significance for Paxton Water Tower and Pump House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Paxton Water Tower and Pump House?

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 Paxton Water Tower and Pump House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Ford County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Ford County.

Explore FordCounty ›

More historic places in Illinois

Browse all historic places in Illinois.

View Illinoishistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Illinois history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Illinoishistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Paxton Water Tower and Pump House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report