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Historic West Side

Historic West Side

Historic Neighborhood in Springfield, Illinois

Sangamon County 62702, 62704

$146,324 Average Value
$89 Average Price per Sq Ft
3 Homes For Sale

Historic charm and central location

As the name suggests, Historic West Side has some of the oldest neighborhoods in Springfield, lovingly maintained by dedicated residents. Sandwiched between downtown Washington Park and the medical district, the location is pretty unbeatable for commuting and access to city attractions. The neighborhood is filled with those who work at the state capitol building or the hospitals to the north. And with an active neighborhood association fighting to preserve the area, prospective homebuyers can feel secure that the vintage streets are not in danger of overdevelopment.

With dates that range from 1880 to 1960, every home here in Historic West Side is unique.
With dates that range from 1880 to 1960, every home here in Historic West Side is unique.
Historic West Side is just over a mile from downtown Springfield and the city’s medical park.
Historic West Side is just over a mile from downtown Springfield and the city’s medical park.
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Unique homes from throughout the decades

Homes here were built from the late 1800s through to the mid-1900s, which means a wide variety of custom-built styles. Low-slung bungalows have quaint front porches and barn-like gambrel rooflines adorn Dutch Colonial Revivals. Boxy American Foursquares feature dormer windows poking out from the roof. "One of my favorite things about that area is the beautiful mature oak trees and the old homes with wraparound porches," says Springfield native Sarah Quattrin Coombe, a Realtor with Keller Williams Capital. "It's also cool that the city works to preserve and maintain the brick roads." Many homes here are rented out, but for those looking to own, prices can start under $50,000 for fixer-upper properties. However, most homes range from $100,000 to $250,000.

Prices in Historic West Side range from one hundred thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand.
Prices in Historic West Side range from one hundred thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand.
Foursquare homes in Historic West Side offer large front porches and elegant window shutters.
Foursquare homes in Historic West Side offer large front porches and elegant window shutters.
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A neighborhood association that preserves and protects

The motto of the Historic West Side Neighborhood Association (HWSNA) is to "Preserve and Protect" their neighborhood. Though the area does not have an official historic designation, the HWSNA works to ensure the neighborhood's character is not lost to development. They place informational plaques at historically relevant homes and meet with the city council and city planning commission to argue for preserving the neighborhood's residential makeup. The HWSNA also plans community events, most notably their annual Block Party.

Washington Park's botanical garden and bell tower

Historic West Side borders one of the city's most popular green spaces — Washington Park. With two ponds, a tennis center, picnic pavilions and a botanical garden, the park has a lot to offer. The botanical garden has free admission and is known for its carillon, a tower with bells that can be played like an instrument. The bell tower is the site of the International Carillon Festival, a music night that ends with a fireworks show. "There's also a really fun Halloween event around the Carillon where they do pumpkin carving and play haunting tunes," Coombe says. Outside of the gardens, the park has a cobblestone pavilion dating back to 1900 that hosts preschool and can be rented out for community events. Just north of the park, the public Pasfield Golf Course is the oldest in the city, though it has been refreshed since the 1890s.

Washington Park residents fly fish during the early mornings.
Washington Park residents fly fish during the early mornings.
Washington Park borders Historic 
West Side, the largest park in the city.
Washington Park borders Historic West Side, the largest park in the city.
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Proximity to downtown and medical park

Historic West Side is about 1.5 miles from both downtown Springfield and the city's medical park. Downtown has several attractions that celebrate Springfield's history as the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. It's also home to the state capitol building, where many state government employees work. The medical park, dominated by Memorial Hospital, St John's Hospital and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, is also a huge employer. "Historic West Side is just a bit far away to be within walking distance of either," Coombe says. "But a lot of people can bike to work." South 2nd Street has designated bike lanes, making crossing busy roads to get to the medical park safer.

Public schools and nearby private options

Zoning for elementary and middle schools varies depending on home location. But, most kids are zoned to attend Dubois Elementary, which gets a C-minus rating from Niche, and then Grant Middle, which gets a C rating. All kids in the neighborhood are zoned for Springfield High School, which gets an A rating. Springfield High offers AP classes and Career & Technical courses in business education, family/consumer science and cooperative education. The neighborhood is also home to a few private options, including St. Agnes School for prekindergarten through eighth grade and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, both of which have a Catholic Dominican-based education. Trinity Lutheran School also has a faith-based curriculum and serves kids from two years old to eighth grade.

Dubois Elementary School offers a fun playground for students of Historic West Side.
Dubois Elementary School offers a fun playground for students of Historic West Side.
Springfield High School is the second best public high school in the area.
Springfield High School is the second best public high school in the area.
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Houses of worship play a part in the community

Several houses of worship are located within Historic West Side, including the Sacred Heart Covenant of the Dominican Sisters and the Temple Israel synagogue. Westminster Presbyterian Church has stained glass windows and a Gothic Revival building from 1908. And Douglass Avenue United Methodist has a small food pantry open to all.

Where to shop and eat around Historic West Side

The Fairhills Shopping Center is less than a mile away from Historic West Side and offers a County Market and a Dollar General, as well as chains like Starbucks and Dunkin'. Head West Sub Shop, located north of the neighborhood, is a local favorite for quick bites to eat. Sunrise Café is known for its breakfast foods, with a popular meatloaf special on Wednesdays. Closer to the capitol building, Boone's has live music evenings and brings in visiting tourists for a cheesy Springfield specialty—the horseshoe sandwich.

Springfield Malls near Historic West Side offer many stores and shops for residents.
Springfield Malls near Historic West Side offer many stores and shops for residents.
Grab a Java near Historic West side offers coffee, tea, and more for residents on the go.
Grab a Java near Historic West side offers coffee, tea, and more for residents on the go.
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Catherine Lashley
Written By
Catherine Lashley
Corey West
Photography Contributed By
Corey West
Jason Jacot
Video By
Jason Jacot

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
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 Diane Tinsley, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Abraham Lincoln Capital

10 min drive

Bus

Lawrence & Park

Bus

Lawrence & Macarthur

Bus

Washington & Lincoln

Bus

Washington & Glenwood

Bus

Lawrence & Amos

Bus

Washington & Park

Bus

Lawrence & Glenwood

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Historic West Side US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 4 4
Burglary 4 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$145,000
Median Single Family Price
$144,900
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$89
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Last 12 months Home Sales
78
Months of Supply
0.50
Median List Price
$149,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
1%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
5%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,070
Median Year Built
1890
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,695
Below the national average
1,936
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
888
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
18,730

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Diane Tinsley, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
5,244
Median Age
39
Population Density
10 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$51,167
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$71,586

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
91.8%
College Graduates
38.5%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
17.4%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
67.3%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
38''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
7''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

42 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

37 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

34 / 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.

Reviews

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Historic West Side