North Main

The North Main Street neighborhood is centrally located in Independence, Missouri, just a few blocks directly north of the Independence Square. It generally lies to the east of Liberty Street, west of Noland Road, south of U.S. 24 Highway, and north of Truman.

History & Architecture

The North Main Street Neighborhood was annexed by the City of Independence in 1851 and predominantly developed between the 1870s and early 1900s, reflecting the prosperity of the city during that period. Prominent Independence families such as the Wallaces, the Flourneys, the Otts, and the Bundschus settled in this neighborhood creating what would be today, a middle to upper class area filled with shopkeepers, lawyers, bankers, and prosperous landowners. Most of these houses were constructed north of Farmer Street along both sides of Main and Liberty Streets.   

As many of the lots in the area were subdivided from the 1910s through the 1930s, smaller, one and one-and-a-half story bungalows were constructed filling in voids found between more stately homes. This was particularly true along North Liberty and North Main Streets, north of College Street. As was typical of many of the larger homes throughout Independence, significant alterations were often introduced during both World Wars I and II, converting single family homes to multi-family rentals. Many of these rentals remained through Urban Renewal in the 1960s. It was not until the late 20th and early 21st century that many of these homes were converted back to single family.

The North Main Street Neighborhood has a diverse, often eclectic, mix of architectural styles, influences, and plans. The majority of property types are vernacular in nature that includes gable and wing plans, bungalows, and Foursquares that date from the late 19th century through the 1930s. Several dwellings, ranging from the 1850s through about 1930, feature the influences of Gothic and Classical Revival, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, and Italianate style architecture. High styles of architecture in this area include Kansas City Shirtwaists, Gothic Revival, and Queen Annes that date mainly from the mid-19th century to the turn of the 20th century.

The neighborhood is known as being one of the oldest established neighborhoods in Independence, its variety of housing styles, and its close proximity to the Independence Square, just a short walk away.

North Main Neighborhood Amenities