LeClaire Historic District
Why it's listed
LeClaire is a planned industrial village covering about 200 acres in southeastern Edwardsville, Illinois. N.O. Nelson and the Nelson Manufacturing Company, makers of commercial plumbing fixtures, built it between 1890 and 1895 on land purchased by a citizens' committee and deeded to the company. Nelson conceived it as a total community and a social experiment rather than a showpiece of paternalism. Workers could buy lots through company financing and have houses built near cost, while the company supplied garden plants, a school called the Academy, a lending library, a bowling alley and sports teams, all open to anyone. Nelson drew on profit sharing, the Ethical Culture movement and Edward Bellamy's ideas. Journalist Nellie Bly praised the village in 1894 by comparing it favorably with Pullman. The original street pattern, parkway trees and mostly wood frame houses survive, giving the area a cohesive character. Several factory buildings are now used by a university.
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) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Social History |
|---|---|
| Acreage | 200 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | LeClaire Historic District (property record) |
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.