Central Geneva Historic District (Boundary Increase)

Central Geneva is a roughly 67-acre historic district on the Fox River in Geneva, Illinois, 37 miles west of Chicago. It takes in both sides of West State Street and most of the southern half of the original town plat. Most houses are two-story frame buildings from 1840 to 1900, and several are among the oldest in the city. Local riverstone vernacular houses sit alongside Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Federal Revival, Neoclassical and Prairie School examples. The 1892 Kane County Courthouse, built of red limestone and brick over an iron frame, anchors the area. The district reflects Geneva's growth after settlement in the 1830s, its selection as county seat in 1836, its mills and light industry along the river, and the arrival of the railroad in 1853, which drew many Swedish immigrants. Buildings such as the Unitarian Church of 1843, the 1908 Carnegie-funded library and city hall are noted for their history and design.