Historic Jefferson has a railroad past with updates focused on community
Historic Jefferson is an established neighborhood that continues to move into the future. In this designated historic district, late 19th- and early 20th-century architecture harkens back to the neighborhood's close association with the railroad and other industries in Lafayette. In recent years, it's incorporated features such as a sharing garden, a Little Free Library and a neighborhood watch program to encourage community interaction and support. Even some historic buildings now serve to meet current needs, like the old Jefferson High School, which was converted in 2000 into senior apartments. Improvements are ongoing. In 2021, the city of Lafayette formulated a Historic Jefferson Neighborhood Community Enhancement Plan, aimed at improving housing conditions, safety and connectivity, and public art and parks. "There are some great people that live in the community that really care about the neighborhood and try to do things to revitalize it," says Amy Wood, CEO of Lafayette Adult Resource Academy, located in the neighborhood.
Historic Jefferson once had railroad stops going right through downtown.
Downtown Historic Jefferson is a great place to take a stroll and shop as you walk to Lafayette.
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Smaller, simplified homes in Historic Jefferson
Apartments, multi-family and single-family homes are organized on the neighborhood's rectangular grid pattern. Home styles reflect the needs of some of the neighborhood's earliest residents. "A lot of the architecture harkens back to the railroad days and the community that worked for the railroad and other industries," says Kelly Lippie, Curator of Collections and Membership Coordinator at the Tippecanoe County Historical Association. "The homes are a little smaller, a little more simple than some other historic neighborhoods." Italianate homes have a minimalist exterior save a few details like decorative arches above the windows. Smaller homes include brick bungalows with gabled entries and front porches. Properties on the market often feature upgrades like newer siding. Single-family homes may start around $130,000, while fourplexes can go up to $380,000. While most residents are renters, the Community Enhancement Plan proposes additional opportunities for ownership through new townhouses and other housing.
Bungalow craftsman homes are sprinkled around the Historic Jefferson area.
Traditional homes with white and tan siding can be seen in groups throughout Historic Jefferson.
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Fresh veggies at the Erie Street Sharing Garden
Neighborhood parks are small but community-oriented. Stockton Park is Lafayette's newest pocket park, located on the neighborhood's south side. A large pavilion with picnic tables anchors the park. It also features a spring rider for kids to bounce back and forth. The Erie Street Sharing Garden sprouts fresh green beans, turnips, tomatoes and other veggies for anyone to pick in the summer months. The Little Free Library houses titles for children and adults to read and replace. Murdock Park is a 39-acre green space less than a mile east, with a walking trail through the park's forested terrain.
Historic Jefferson takes care of the shared Erie Street garden for locals in need to eat.
Kids can enjoy the playground at Murdock Park in Lafayette.
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Teens strive for excellence at Jefferson High School
The Lafayette School Corporation oversees highly-rated schools in the area. Younger kids can learn the fundamentals at Murdock Elementary, which earns a B from Niche. Students may then move on to Sunnyside Intermediate for fifth and sixth grade and Tecumseh Junior High for seventh and eighth grade. Both earn a B-minus. Jefferson High School serves the city's teens and earns an A-minus. The high school provides ample early college experience with over 60 dual credit courses.
Jefferson High School is home of the Bronchos athletics.
Lafayette Tecumseh Junior High School serves kids 8th though 9th.
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Local flavors to the north and south
With Union Street to the north and downtown to the south, Historic Jefferson is surrounded by local flavors. Formerly a laundromat, a pool hall and a grocery store, today The Pickle is a popular restaurant on Union Street. It has a diverse menu of pizzas, calzones, salads, subs and Mexican dishes and outdoor seating with plenty of umbrellas for shade. Downtown, East End Grill serves up Southern fare like shrimp and grits and specialty cocktails like a blackberry sour. Marathon Gas is a convenient stop in the neighborhood for some grab-and-go items. Target Grocery offers a more comprehensive grocery selection about 2.5 miles east.
Stop in at the Pickle for pizza and a sandwich in the Historic Jefferson neighborhood.
Arni's is a Lafayette staple and only steps from Historic Jefferson.
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Historical insights and stories with Preserve Historic Lafayette
Some local organizations offer a close-up look at the neighborhood's history. Preserve Historic Lafayette hosts occasional walking tours, offering historical insights and spooky stories along the neighborhood's streets and inside some buildings. History buffs may also get a kick out of the Feast of the Hunters' Moon, a reenactment of an annual fall gathering of the French and Native Americans at Fort Ouiatenon. The festival takes place each October about 4 miles west of the city.
There's a historic district in Jefferson with large Craftsmen, Italianate and Traditional homes.
Historic Jefferson boasts large homes with tree lined streets with a mix of styles.
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Erie Street is a bike-safe route
Downtown access is one of this neighborhood's perks. The neighborhood's south side borders a portion of Lafayette's downtown. A recently-repaved Erie Street offers pedestrian access with a bike lane and sidewalks leading southward. The Community Enhancement Plan proposes to add bike lanes on Ferry Street for a complete downtown connection for bicyclists. Public transportation is accessible via the 2A, 2B and 23 buses.
Historic Jefferson has many bike lanes to commute around town and to West Lafayette.
Historic Jefferson is steps to the courthouse in downtown Lafayette.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cathy Russell,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Tapawingo Park
Columbian Park
Murdock Park
Erie Street Sharing Garden
Footbridge Sharing Garden
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Historic Jefferson
US
Homicide
6
4
Sexual Assault
7
4
Assault with Weapon
7
4
Robbery
8
4
Burglary
7
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
7
4
Larceny
8
4
Crime Score
7
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Historic Jefferson, Lafayette sell after 1 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Historic Jefferson, Lafayette over the last 12 months is $155,375, up 11% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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This charming six-unit building is fully occupied and offers a fantastic investment opportunity in Lafayette! In addition to its attractive corner-lot location, which is a short distance to Purdue University and downtown amenities, this property presents six spacious 1-bedroom units that have had several updates within the past two years along with a large private parking lot for tenants. Tenants
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cathy Russell,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
916
Median Age
33
Population under 18
23.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.8%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$29,743
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$37,861
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.5%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
29.4%
Advanced Degrees
6.9%
% Population in Labor Force
58.7%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
40''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
7''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
73/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
80/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
49/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
