The homes have moderate ornamentation and attention to architectural styling details of their period.

[3] The Center City Historic District is significant as a link to the Swedish Lutheran population of the Chisago Lakes region during the area's most important period of development and as the county's finest concentration of late nineteenth and early twentieth century residences.

When the railroad arrived in the Chisago Lakes region in 1881, the area witnessed significant growth.

The residences within the Center City Historic District, housed merchants, tradesmen, professionals, politicians, and retired farmers.

Norelius was a divinity student and served for three months before returning to the seminary.