Sesquicentennial Neighborhood

Description: The city‘s first historic neighborhood was given the official designation of Sesquicentennial Neighborhood at the urging of residents eager to commemorate the core of the city.

The neighborhood is bordered by the Norfolk Southern tracks, Neil Street, Church Street and Lynn Street. With the designation, the council agreed to contribute $10,000 for historic signs.

The intent of the designation is to help preserve and promote the cultural, ethnic and social history of the area that was the first to be settled.

Special historic street signs are planned, along with area historic markers, and plaques detailing the history of houses where the owners elected to install them.

Only McCollum opposed the designation, arguing the neighborhood should wait until the city constructs a more comprehensive historic designation process.

An image of the Sesquicentennial neighborhood sign can be found at this website

Source: Champaign Public Library Fugitive Facts
Date Last Revisited: 11/20/96