Griggsville Historic District
Why it's listed
Griggsville's historic district takes in the central part of a west-central Illinois town, following a north-south ridge known as Griggsville Mound and stretching west along Quincy Street. Of 125 structures, 52 were judged architecturally or historically special. Most date from 1854 to the close of the 19th century, and Italianate houses and storefronts are the strongest group. Federal, Greek Revival, Octagon, Carpenter Gothic and Queen Anne examples add variety. The commercial block on the south side of Quincy between Corey and Stanford has changed little since 1894, while Corey Street south of Congress forms a lively residential neighborhood. The town was laid out in 1834 as a speculative venture by eastern investors and grew as a trading center for farmland, with some river shipping and later a railroad in 1869. Listing recognized the unusually complete picture of a small 19th-century city, at a time when several major buildings had recently been demolished.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is one of the finest assemblages of mid- to late 19th-century architecture in any Illinois municipality of comparable size. It holds residential, commercial, religious and industrial buildings in styles including Federal, Greek Revival, Octagon, Italianate and Queen Anne. Together they give a relatively complete picture of a small 19th-century city. The form rates its significance as state level.
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 79000863, listed January 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Irregular pattern along Corey, Stanford, Quincy and Liberty Sts., Griggsville |
|---|---|
| County | Pike County |
| Listed | January 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000863 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Italianate predominant; also Federal, Greek Revival, Octagon, Carpenter Gothic, Queen Anne, Classical Revival, Ecclesiastical Gothic and Arts and Crafts |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as largely intact, with 52 of 125 structures evaluated as especially significant. Four major structures, including an 1873 Baptist Church, have been lost since 1974. Present use includes commercial, educational, religious, government and private residence. |
| Acreage | 100 |
| Coordinates | 39.70610, -90.72465 (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 79000863.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5608986
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.