The oldest building from this period, the Mermaid House Hotel, is a Federal structure dating to 1830. The city received an influx of German immigrants from the 1830s onward, which affected the city's development. In the 1850s and 1860s, a railroad opened in the city and several local industries developed; however, the city retained the character of a small college town and never developed into an industrial or trade center.
The Mermaid House Hotel, built in 1830, is the oldest remaining structure from this era. The city's population expanded with German immigrants starting in the 1830s, which had a lasting impact on its development. In the 1850s and 1860s, a railroad was established, leading to the growth of local industries; yet, the city remained a small college town, never transforming into a major industrial or commercial center.