Upper State Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Upper State Street Historic District
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Upper State Street at Beech Street.
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly State St. from Bradley St. to Mill River St., New Haven, Connecticut |
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| Area | 23 acres (9.3 ha) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001143 |
| Added to NRHP | September 7, 1984 |
The Upper State Street Historic District is a special area in New Haven, Connecticut. It's a well-preserved neighborhood that shows what a busy shopping street looked like in the late 1800s. This district is located in the East Rock part of New Haven.
The district follows State Street, running from Bradley Street down to the Mill River. It's just west of Interstate 91, which forms its eastern and southern edges. This historic area was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Contents
What is the Upper State Street Historic District?
The Upper State Street Historic District is a place where you can see many old buildings. These buildings show how people lived and worked over 100 years ago. It's like a living museum of history.
How Did State Street Begin?
When New Haven was first planned in the 1630s, State Street was just a simple path. It led from the main town area to open fields along the Mill River. These fields were used for grazing animals.
In 1641, a bridge was built over the Mill River. This made the path more important for travel between the east and west. However, the street didn't become a busy commercial area until after 1850. At that time, New Haven was growing fast with new factories and businesses.
When Did the Area Grow?
By the 1890s, State Street was almost completely developed. It became a central shopping area for the many homes nearby. People living on Orange Street and Whitney Avenue to the west would come here to shop.
Most of the buildings you see on State Street today are from this time. They were built when the area was first becoming a busy center.
What Kinds of Buildings Are Here?
The buildings in the Upper State Street Historic District are very different from each other. They were built for many purposes.
- Commercial buildings: These were used for shops and businesses.
- Mixed-use buildings: Some buildings had shops on the ground floor and homes above.
- Light industrial buildings: These were for small factories or workshops.
- Churches: There are also churches in the district.
Many of the old shops still have their original fronts. This helps us see what they looked like long ago. Not many of these old buildings have been torn down. Even though Interstate 91 was built nearby, the street still looks much like it did in the past.
Images for kids
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32 Walnut Street (about 1837), Franklin (now Jocelyn) Square.
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977-9 State Street.
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974-6 and 980 State Street.
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Eld Street west of State Street.
