Farmers National Bank
Why it's listed
Farmers National Bank is a two-story, rectangular commercial building at 68 West Elm Street in Hillsboro, Texas. Its construction is dated ca. 1885, with a major remodeling about 1913 that added new brick facing and a classical facade. The front features two monumental cast-concrete Ionic columns, a wide arched window opening, limestone sills and frames, and a limestone entablature with large dentils beneath a stone balustrade. Inside, imported marble trim, walls and wainscoting remain, along with many older furnishings. The bank was organized and chartered in 1887 by incorporators who were largely farmers and stockmen. It moved to this site in 1898 after acquiring the assets of the Hill County National Bank, and it was the oldest national bank in Hillsboro until its 1931 purchase by the Colonial Trust Company. Its listing rests on its architecture, which retains early twentieth-century integrity despite the remodeling, and on its role in local commerce and development. It remains in use as a bank.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an important Hillsboro landmark and one of the city's most architecturally significant structures, comparable to the Classical Revival bank at the opposite end of the block. It also reflects the role of Farmers National Bank, organized and chartered in 1887, in the development of Hillsboro and Hill County.
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 84001871, listed March 30, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 68 W. Elm St., Hillsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Hill County |
| Listed | March 30, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001871 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899; 1900- |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is stated as excellent, and the building's current use is a bank. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.01049, -97.13123 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84001871.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002249
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.