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The Wilson Commercial Historic District is locally significant under Criterion A for its association with Community Planning and Development and its association with Commerce. The district’s development origins can be traced back to Nicholas “Uncle Nick” Wilson’s 160-acre homestead established in 1895. Nick was responsible for the settlement of Wilson, and operated a small store, post office, boarding house and livery stable on his homestead. It was noted when he applied for his patent in 1904 that these developments were more of an accident than design, and that the small community of Wilson was not likely to be developed into a townsite. This early assessment turned true, and today Wilson is a census-designated place in Teton County. The townsite was never organized or incorporated. It grew from the haphazard series of necessities with a mixed residential and commercial use into a commercial corridor along Highway 22 where Wilsonites can satisfy basic needs without needing to travel into Jackson or over Teton Pass into Idaho. This growth is closely tied to the development of roads and safe passage over the formidable Snake River.