Benchmark, Carlinville, IL
Carlinville, IL (Macoupin County)
Carlinville is situated in south-central Illinois, sixty miles from St.Louis, two hundred and twenty-four from Chicago, and forty from Springfield, and is characterized, like the whole of Macoupin County, of which it is the seat, by gently undulating terrain virtually devoid of prominent features, elevations in altitude being limited to the immediate proximity of watercourses.
Carlinville is significant as a relatively intact example of an Illinois town that reached maturity by 1900. The architectural quality, although roughly equivalent to other towns of the area and time, is consistently above average and in a good state of preservation. More importantly, the town still reflects the segregation of activities characteristic of the period: a compact, gap-free commercial area surrounding the square, a governmental district, and a large residential section, all within an easy walk from one another. The older part of Carlinville, i.e. the historic district, preserves an urban environment whose growth and appearance were determined by the horse and the pedestrian well before the automobile began to make its demands felt.
Beyond this, the district presents a notable setting for its central feature, the courthouse. Carlinville and the illustrious Macoupin County Courthouse form an integrated whole, visually interacting in a manner not unlike that of Chartres and it's cathedral. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/19/8935/...
Benchmark, Carlinville, IL
Carlinville, IL (Macoupin County)
Carlinville is situated in south-central Illinois, sixty miles from St.Louis, two hundred and twenty-four from Chicago, and forty from Springfield, and is characterized, like the whole of Macoupin County, of which it is the seat, by gently undulating terrain virtually devoid of prominent features, elevations in altitude being limited to the immediate proximity of watercourses.
Carlinville is significant as a relatively intact example of an Illinois town that reached maturity by 1900. The architectural quality, although roughly equivalent to other towns of the area and time, is consistently above average and in a good state of preservation. More importantly, the town still reflects the segregation of activities characteristic of the period: a compact, gap-free commercial area surrounding the square, a governmental district, and a large residential section, all within an easy walk from one another. The older part of Carlinville, i.e. the historic district, preserves an urban environment whose growth and appearance were determined by the horse and the pedestrian well before the automobile began to make its demands felt.
Beyond this, the district presents a notable setting for its central feature, the courthouse. Carlinville and the illustrious Macoupin County Courthouse form an integrated whole, visually interacting in a manner not unlike that of Chartres and it's cathedral. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/19/8935/...