South Campus Neighborhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Campus Historic District
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Fifth and Ivy is the commercial core of the neighborhood.
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| Location | Chico, California  United States |
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| Area | 520 acres |
| Built | 1860-1949 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000636 |
| Added to NRHP | June 24, 1991 |
The South Campus Historic District is a special area in Chico, California. It was recognized as a historic place in 1991. This happened thanks to the hard work of the Chico Heritage Association. The district is part of the larger South Campus Neighborhood.
This historic area stretches from Salem Street to Cherry Street. It also goes from West Second Street to West Sixth Street. The wider neighborhood covers a bigger area. It goes from West Second Street south to West Ninth Street. It also goes west from Salem Street to the edge of the city.
This part of Chico was one of the first places where people built homes. Streets were planned out here way back in 1860. Today, South Campus is home to the famous Stansbury House. It also has the old Southern Pacific Depot and the interesting Language Houses.
Right now, South Campus is a lively neighborhood. Many young people live here, especially students from Chico State. It's one of the busiest parts of the city. The corner of Fifth and Ivy Streets is a popular spot. People call it "Five and I," and it has many local shops.
What Makes the South Campus Historic District Special?
The historic district includes 114 buildings. These buildings are special because they help tell the story of the area. They are officially listed as important to the district's history.
One interesting group of buildings is the Language Houses. These are six houses on West Third Street. They used to belong to Chico State University. The university used them for students who wanted to practice different languages. Each house had a language theme, like Spanish or German.
Over time, the houses needed a lot of repairs. Selling them to someone who wanted to fix them up took a while. The state government even had to get involved. Today, these houses are privately owned. They have been beautifully restored. Students still live in them.
The Language Houses include:
- H.W. Crew House (also known as the Spanish House)
- Rouke-Halle House (also known as the German House)
- C.C. Richardson House (also known as the Italian House)
- J.V. Richardson House
- Charles Ball House (also known as the International House)
- French House (also known as the Kappa Sigma Delta House)
Many other historic buildings are part of the district. These include old homes and other important structures. Some examples are:
- Abraham House
- Allen-Sommer-Gage House
- Stansbury House
- Notre Dame School
- Bidwell Chapel
How the Neighborhood Association Helps
In 1996, people living and working in South Campus formed a group. They called it the South Campus Neighborhood Association. This group helps make the neighborhood a better place. They work with the city to solve problems.
For example, the association has asked the city for better street lights. They have also asked for repairs to sidewalks. They work with the police to keep the area safe. They even helped change the city's rules about noise.
The association also helped create a special zone. This zone is called the South Campus Fraternity/Sorority Overlay Zone. It helps manage where student groups like fraternities and sororities can be located. This zone helps make sure everyone in the neighborhood gets along.
Understanding the Fraternity/Sorority Zone
This special zone helps guide how land is used in the area. It makes it easier for fraternities and sororities to have houses there. But they still need to get approval from the city's Planning Director. This helps keep things organized in the neighborhood.
