The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 as a part of Ottumwa MPS.

[2] Court Street was developed as a major artery from the Des Moines River to Sixth Street, which was Ottumwa's original city limits, where it made a slight turn to the north and headed up a bluff and into the countryside above the river valley.

From this period until 1942 a centralized steam heat system was available in the city and the main pipes were located under Court Street.

That process started to be reversed in the late 20th century when historic preservation took root in Ottumwa.

Architects who have designs in the district include George Kern, Edward Clark, and Fisher & Lowrie.