Fairbanks Flats

Fairbanks Flats is a residential complex in Beloit featuring four buildings with concrete block walls and sloped roofs. Each structure contains six two-story units and retains its original construction details from the industrial era.

The complex was built in 1917 by the Fairbanks Morse Company to house Black workers who migrated north during World War I industrial expansion. The construction responded to factories needing more labor during wartime manufacturing growth.

The complex became foundational to Beloit's Black community and shows how industrial companies shaped worker housing. The buildings remain visible reminders of the migration patterns and social changes that reshaped the city.

The site is easily accessible for visitors to explore the exterior and observe the architectural features. You can walk around the grounds to see the structural details and layout of the historic buildings from various angles.

The apartments were developed by Eclipse Home Makers, a Fairbanks Morse subsidiary that purchased the land to prevent the city from building a public park there. This business decision directly shaped what became the neighborhood instead of an open green space.