South of Campus Neighborhood
Also known as: See Also:Allen-Sommer-Gage House; Stansbury House
Why it's listed
South of Campus is a residential district in Chico, California, on the grid of streets that General John Bidwell laid out in 1860 and 1863. It covers twelve whole blocks and eleven partial blocks, with 116 contributing and 49 noncontributing buildings, most built between 1862 and 1930. From the start it was the preferred address in town, close to downtown, the railroad depot, the churches and the Normal School, and it holds the homes of many prominent citizens. The buildings range from small cottages to large two-and-a-half-story houses in Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Prairie, Monterey Revival and other styles. Two houses, the Stansbury House and the Allen-Sommer-Gage House, were already individually listed. Mature walnut, redwood and chestnut trees, hitching posts and carriage stepping stones add to the setting. The university's growth has brought demolitions, parking lots, a telephone company building and many student rental conversions, which have reduced the integrity of some structures.
Significance in brief: The neighborhood was laid out by General John Bidwell and was long Chico's most desirable and prestigious place to live, with the largest homes of prominent citizens. It holds a wide range of architectural styles from the 1860s through the 1920s. The text notes that university expansion, institutional construction and student rental conversions have removed or altered many buildings.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 91000636, listed June 24, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by W. 2nd, Normal, W. 6th and Cherry Sts., Chico |
|---|---|
| County | Butte County |
| Listed | June 24, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000636 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Local builders named include Walter Hann, A. J. Bryan, L. Van Vlack and Sacramento builder George Pearl. |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mostly in residential use, with many homes converted to student rentals, fraternities and sororities. Some buildings are restored, others altered, and some have been demolished for university and church projects. |
| Acreage | 52 |
| Coordinates | 39.72426, -121.84312 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 91000636.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7566493
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.