 The courthouse was built in 1894-95; architect Henry Elliott based its Romanesque design off his earlier design for the Edgar County, Illinois, courthouse.The district's historic commercial buildings are mostly located on the courthouse square, which surrounds the courthouse; these buildings are mainly two-story brick structures.The Italianate and Queen Anne styles are prevalent among the district's houses, with the former being the most prominent; the Greek Revival and Federal styles are also common in the district's earlier homes.