Fifth and Lawrence Streets Residential District
Why it's listed
Spacious, tree-lined streets west of downtown Ironton, Ohio, make up a neighborhood of about four blocks that has largely kept its original form since it was laid out soon after the town was platted in 1849. Most buildings date from 1850 to 1880 and include Greek Revival, Italianate, French Second Empire and Romanesque Revival designs. The brick Italianate house at 305 North Fifth Street was built in 1850 by John Campbell, founder of Ironton and the leading iron manufacturer of the Hanging Rock Iron Region. His brother Hiram, also an ironmaster, built a Second Empire house next door. Other homes belonged to a physician, a cut nail factory owner, a dry goods family and an iron furnace builder. The First Presbyterian Church, built 1873 to 1882, is a visual focal point. The district is notable for its cohesive architecture and for its links to the iron industry that shaped Ironton's economy and social life in the nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The district holds a cohesive group of mid-nineteenth-century houses in Greek Revival, Italianate, French Second Empire and Romanesque Revival styles. It also contains the homes of people tied to the founding of Ironton in 1849 and to the iron industry of the Hanging Rock Iron Region, including ironmaster and Ironton founder John Campbell.
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 78002098, listed August 2, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5th and Lawrence Sts., Ironton |
|---|---|
| County | Lawrence County |
| Listed | August 2, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002098 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1850-1880 |
| Architect / builder | First Presbyterian Church built by G.F. Buchanon and D.W. Vogelsong (1873-1882); John Campbell built the house at 305 North Fifth Street; Hiram Campbell built the house at 321 North Fifth Street; Captain Harry Brown built the house at 516 Lawrence Street |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, French Second Empire, Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Invention |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well preserved, with only two relatively inconspicuous intrusions on the periphery; the houses are privately owned and occupied, with a church and some government use. |
| Acreage | 12.8 |
| Coordinates | 38.53841, -82.68448 (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 78002098.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.