National Register of Historic Places

Norton Downtown Historic District

Norton, Norton County, Kansas
Listed
January 18, 2011
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
10001144

About this property

The Norton Downtown Historic District, in Norton, Kansas, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. It is a 19 acres (7.7 ha) area which included 43 contributing buildings, a network of brick-paved streets which is counted as contributing structure, and 18 non-contributing properties. It is a commercial, industrial, and civic area between the original Burlington & Missouri River railroad alignment on the north of downtown and the original Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad alignment on the south of downtown. In terms of streets it is roughly bounded by East Lincoln Street on the north, on the south by East Penn Street on the south, South First Street on the west, and South Norton Avenue on the east. The process of preserving the downtown area began in 2008. A specialist from the Kansas State Historical Society introduced local officials to the funding opportunities for historical restoration of downtown buildings. This was followed in 2009 by a grant that covered about 60% of the funding for building restoration. The downtown area was listed as a Kansas State Historic Site on November 20, 2010. Individual buildings are mostly one- or two-story buildings, which are architecturally one-part or two-part commercial blocks. Norton County Courthouse (1929), a monumental building with six Corinthian fluted engaged columns on its east and west sides, and six Corinthian fluted pilasters on its north and south sides. Other features include full entablatures above each set of columns or pilasters, and, on all four sides, dentillation on the cornice of its raised parapet wall. It was designed by architects Cuthbert & Suehrk. Southwestern Bell Telephone Building (1956–1958), 206 E. Lincoln St., a two-story two-part commercial block which is "an excellent example of Modern Movement architecture in downtown Norton." Since the designation of the area as a historic district, the local Chamber of Commerce estimates over $6,595,000 has been invested in restoration and rehabilitation of buildings and has led to more businesses relocating to the district.

Location

Norton, Norton County, Kansas
39.82881, -99.88827

Categories

COMMERCE
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

West Sappa Creek Lattice
Industrial
15.6 mi
Norcatur City Hall
Industrial
16.1 mi
Barbeau House
Industrial
16.2 mi
North Fork Solomon River Lattice Truss Bridge
Industrial
17 mi
Long Island School
Industrial
20.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Norton Downtown Historic District listed on the National Register?

Norton Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 18, 2011.

What type of historic resource is Norton Downtown Historic District?

Norton Downtown Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Norton Downtown Historic District?

The period of significance for Norton Downtown Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Norton Downtown Historic District?

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