It included a central public square and streets that were laid out in a gridiron pattern following the points on a compass.

Albia experienced an economic boom between 1900 and 1920 when Consolidation Coal Company relocated their operations to Buxton.

Many of the contributing properties are commercial buildings built during the coal era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

They are primarily two-story brick structures that follow the architectural styles that were prominent when they were built.

[3] Volunteers solicited a $25 contribution from building and business owners to the Albia Area Improvement Association fund as seed money for the project.