State Center Commercial Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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State Center Commercial Historic District
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Blocks 200 and 100 of W. Main St. and 100 E. Main St., State Center, Iowa |
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| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Architectural style | Prairie School Late 19th & early 20th century Revivals |
| MPS | Iowa's Main Street Commercial Architecture MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001034 |
| Added to NRHP | September 20, 2002 |
The State Center Commercial Historic District is a special area in State Center, Iowa. It's recognized as a historic district because it has many old and important buildings. These buildings show what the town was like long ago. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
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Exploring State Center's Historic Downtown
This historic district covers the main business area of State Center. It includes many buildings and structures that tell the story of the town. When it was first listed, there were 36 important features, mostly buildings, that helped make it special.
What is a Historic District?
A historic district is like a special neighborhood or area that has been officially recognized for its important past. The buildings and places in these districts are often old and show how people lived and worked a long time ago. Protecting these areas helps us learn about history.
A Town Built by the Railroad
State Center is located in Marshall County, Iowa, right between the towns of Marshalltown and Nevada. The town was started in 1863 by the Cedar Rapids & Missouri Railroad. It was first called "Centre Station." However, the first railroad agent, William Barnes, changed the name to "State Centre."
Main Street and the Lincoln Highway
The famous Lincoln Highway once passed through State Center on Fourth and Fifth Streets. Around 1924, its route was changed to go down Main Street. Main Street was paved in 1930. Unlike many other towns that used brick, State Center's Main Street was paved with concrete. This street itself is considered an important part of the historic district.
Buildings of the Past
The district has many different kinds of buildings. You can find shops, an opera house, and even a medical building. There are also homes and industrial buildings. Important public buildings like the fire station, city hall, and post office are also part of the district. The old high school, which is now a middle school, is also included.
Many of the buildings are not very large. This is because there were big fires in 1895 and 1917 that destroyed some structures. The buildings in the district were mostly built between 1869 and 1952. You can see different styles of architecture, like the Prairie School style and other popular styles from the late 1800s and early 1900s. One building, Watson's Grocery, was even listed on the National Register of Historic Places by itself in 1998.
