Many of the district's subdivisions were platted in 1878 in anticipation of railroad construction. Development was spurred by the arrival of the Great Northern Railroad in 1880 and a branch line of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1885. The construction of Belmont Elementary School in 1887 and South Junior High School in 1932 were important developments in the area's later history. Significant growth of the district ended circa 1942.[2]
When first listed, the district included 423 contributing buildings, one contributing structure and one contributing object. Also included are 183 non-contributing buildings.[1] The Dinnie Apartments, built in 1903, which were individually listed on the NRHP in 1985, are included in the district. In 2006 the district was increased to identify a house built in 1913 with Prairie School and Foursquare architecture as an additional contributing property.[3]
