Near Southeast Historic District
Why it's listed
Located about a mile southeast of downtown Fort Worth, this neighborhood of roughly 15 full blocks and parts of 10 others preserves the core of the city's historic premier African American community. Most of its 227 resources are single-family houses built between 1900 and 1930, with a few multiple-family dwellings, churches and commercial buildings. Over half are Bungalow/Craftsman homes, alongside National Folk, Folk Victorian and Tudor Revival examples. Streetcar lines extended south in the early 1900s and drew residential growth. The area began as a mostly white neighborhood and shifted to a mostly African American one between about 1890 and 1926. Banker and educator William Madison McDonald encouraged this change by buying large tracts near East Terrell Avenue and East Humbolt Street from about 1910 and offering to finance homes there. Of the 227 resources, 162 contribute to the district's character, and most of those keep their original design and materials.
Significance in brief: The district is described as the core of Fort Worth's historic premier African American neighborhood. It developed along streetcar lines and shifted from a white to an African American community in the early 20th century, influenced by banker and educator William Madison McDonald, who bought land and financed homes there. Its houses reflect styles popular with working and middle-class families.
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 02000405, listed April 26, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by New York Ave., E. Terrell Ave., former I&GN Raiway, Verbena St., and N side of E. Terrell Ave,, Fort Worth |
|---|---|
| County | Tarrant County |
| Listed | April 26, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000405 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman, Classical Revival, Tudor Revival, National Folk, Contemporary Folk, Folk Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | 162 of 227 resources contribute (about 71%). Most contributing buildings retain integrity. Some properties are altered or vacant, and nearby areas have many vacant lots. |
| Acreage | 65.5 |
| Coordinates | 32.73303, -97.23784 (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 02000405.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999753
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.