South of Campus Neighborhood

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.