Jonesboro Historic District
Why it's listed
Jonesboro is a small residential neighborhood southeast of Morganton's central business district, laid out along West Concord, Jones, South Anderson, Lytle and Bay Streets. Its 41 buildings, built between about 1895 and 1935, are mostly one-and-one-half story frame cottages, shotgun houses and bungalows, with a few Victorian-influenced details. Two ravines bound the area, several streets wind or remain unpaved, and open lots serve as garden plots, giving it a rural feel close to downtown. It is documented as Morganton's oldest and only intact historic black neighborhood, possibly developed as early as 1880. The most substantial house belonged to Philo Harbison, born a slave in 1856, who became a master carpenter, contractor and builder and owned a planing mill. He built his own two-story home and several rental shotgun houses on Jones and South Anderson Streets. Most other houses were owner-built. The vacant lots are counted as one contributing site because they are part of the district's character.
Significance in brief: The district is described as Morganton's oldest and only remaining intact historic black neighborhood, significant in Black History. It is also tied to prominent black citizens, especially Philo Harbison, a contractor and builder. Its rural character, including ravines, unpaved streets and vacant lots, sets it apart from the city's white neighborhoods.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87001916, listed November 9, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by W. Concord, Bay, Jones, Lytle, & S. Anderson Sts., Morganton |
|---|---|
| County | Burke County |
| Listed | November 9, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001916 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1895-ca. 1935 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown, Philo Harbison |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Victorian cottages, bungalows and shotgun houses |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mostly occupied private residences, with some vacant land; condition rated fair to good. 37 of 41 buildings are contributing, plus one contributing site made up of the vacant lots. |
| Acreage | 23.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.74053, -81.68864 (NPS GIS) |
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.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87001916.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18153742
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.