Belton Farmers' Gin Coop
Also known as: #1
Why it's listed
Built in 1927 by an association of local cotton farmers, this two-story brick gin occupies a site beside Nolan Creek at the southeast corner of Belton's central business district. It replaced an earlier gin that apparently burned in the 1920s, on ground that had held other cotton processing structures, including a mill lost to fire in 1891. The building has load-bearing common bond brick walls on a concrete foundation, a hipped sheet-metal roof with a small cupola, and steel casement windows. A covered driveway with three loading bays on the north side carries a 1953 sign. Bell County was an important cotton-producing area, and Belton served as its center for processing, commerce and shipping. Most gins in Central Texas were frame buildings clad in wood or sheet metal, which makes this masonry example unusual. The county's cotton industry collapsed in the 1930s and 1940s, and the gin is one of the few survivors of the many cotton businesses that once shaped the town's economy. It is vacant, and most equipment is gone.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare surviving brick cotton gin in Central Texas, where most gins were frame buildings. It is tied to the cotton industry that anchored Belton's economy from the late 19th century until the Great Depression. It also represents the utilitarian agricultural processing buildings of the cotton boom years.
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 90001870, listed December 26, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 219 S. East Ave., Building 4, Belton |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | December 26, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001870 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927 - 1940 |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed sometime after World War II and vacant for some years; in fair condition, with most processing equipment removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.05492, -97.46285 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 90001870.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001542
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.