Home inspection in Center City.

What we see in Center City homes.

Center City was platted in 1857 and is the seat of Chisago County, in the Swedish-settled Chisago Lakes area. The city covers 0.59 square miles of land, and the 2020 Census counted 629 residents and about 291 housing units. Its historic district is 19 homes and one church along the east side of Summit Avenue on a hill overlooking North Center Lake. The homes were built between 1888 and 1910 in Queen Anne and Romanesque styles after the railroad arrived in 1881. Other housing is newer.

Houses from 1888 to 1910 need the checks that go with age: foundations and sills, floor and roof framing, original windows, and wiring that may include knob-and-tube. Steep or lake-facing lots make grading and drainage important, and older basements can be damp. Queen Anne details such as porches, trim and rooflines hold water, so paint, flashing and rot are worth watching. The historic district may carry rules on exterior changes, so ask the city before planning work.

Local facts checked September 2026 against: Wikipedia, Wikipedia.