Historic Northwest District

This residential neighborhood in Delaware, Ohio, lies northwest of the downtown business area and the county government buildings. Laid out on a grid with straight streets and long, deep lots, it holds 510 contributing resources and 248 noncontributing ones, including houses, churches, carriage houses, barns and garages. Buildings date mainly from 1825 to 1940. Italianate homes are the largest group at 35 percent, followed by Queen Anne, Folk Victorian, Colonial Revival and Gothic Revival. Most homes keep their porches, limestone foundations and original setback from the sidewalk, and wide tree-lined lawns, stone curbs and alleys add to the setting. The district is separated from the commercial center by the placement of the courthouse square and by deeper lots and alleys. Properties were counted as contributing only if they kept their original height, scale, setback and key details. The text indicates the area has avoided much of the deterioration seen in other historic neighborhoods and still reflects its earlier character.