Downtown Geneva has been the center of commerce and manufacturing since the city’s founding in 1835. Early businesses served pioneer farmers and clustered around the “Old Corner” at State and First streets, the hub of activity until 1890. As the city grew, commercial development spread west along State Street, with notable historic buildings such as the Unity and Nelson Buildings on the 300 block and the Classical Revival Fargo Theater, built in 1923 by August Wilson, on the north side. The 400 and 500 blocks showcase a blend of residential properties, gas stations, and Mid-Century Modern commercial buildings from the 1950s and 1960s. Today, nearly every era of Geneva’s development—from the 1840s to the 1990s—can be seen along West State Street. The area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 as part of the Central Geneva Historic District.