Carrollton Courthouse Square Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Hodges House
Why it's listed
Carrollton's courthouse square is the commercial and civic center of the Greene County seat in Illinois. The district takes in twelve large quarter blocks around a full courthouse block. The courthouse, built in 1891-1892, is a rock-faced white limestone building in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, with a mansard roof and a hundred-foot bell tower. Around it stand mostly two- and three-story red brick storefronts, along with a 1902 Georgian Revival library, a 1932 post office and the early Hodges House. Building styles range from plain Federal to Italianate, Second Empire and cast iron fronts. No single style is outstanding, but together they show the variety of a small county town. Many storefronts have been modernized and some cornices altered, though upper floors are more intact. Buildings were counted as contributing if they date from 1829 to 1932 and keep enough of their original exterior. The square remains the main business area of the town.
Significance in brief: The district is the only significant concentration of businesses in Carrollton and holds a large number of well-preserved 19th-century commercial and public buildings. The form says no single style is outstanding, but together they show the range found in small county seat towns. The period of significance runs from 1829 to 1932.
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 85001667, listed August 1, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by S. Main, W. 5th, N. Main and W. 6th Sts., Carrollton |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | August 1, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001667 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1829-1932 |
| Architectural style | Federal, Italianate, Gothic, Richardsonian Romanesque, Second Empire, Georgian Revival, and Beaux Arts Classicism influences |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings are reasonably well maintained on the exterior, but vacant second-floor spaces have been neglected and are deteriorating. Use remains commercial, residential and public. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 39.30199, -90.40986 (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 85001667.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5046652
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.