Tazewill Historic District
Why it's listed
Tazewell's historic district covers 67 acres of a Southwest Virginia county seat, originally laid out as Jeffersonville in 1800 in a narrow valley near the base of Rich Mountain. Hills confined growth to an east-west corridor along Main Street, with residential suburbs developing to the north after the Civil War. The district holds 112 contributing resources, including commercial blocks, a ca. 1832 brick jail, churches, schools and houses. Most buildings date from 1866 to 1916, when the town rebuilt and grew. Notable examples include the Romanesque-style Bank of Clinch Valley, the unusual cluster of law offices known as Lawyer's Row, Gothic Revival churches, and Queen Anne houses such as the Preston House, designed by William Pierce. Many homes follow vernacular plans such as the central-passage and T-plan. The district was listed for its commerce and architecture, with a period of significance running from 1832 to 1950.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1832-1950 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Acreage | 67 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Tazewill Historic District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.