Kentland Farm Historic and Archeological District
Also known as: VDHR Site No. 60-202
Why it's listed
Kentland Farm is a 350-acre district on the New River in northwestern Montgomery County, Virginia, reached from the end of Va. Rt. 623. Its centerpiece is Kentland, a two-story, five-bay Flemish-bond brick house built in 1834-35, with a central-passage plan, a rear ell, a limestone foundation and detailed Federal and Greek Revival woodwork, including carved mantels and a three-run stair. Nearby are a hexagonal brick meat house, an altered antebellum frame dwelling, a mid-nineteenth-century barn and corncrib, a mill and the Kent-Cowan cemetery. The district also covers Buchanans Bottom, an early patented tract, and two early fords. Thirteen archaeological sites have been recorded. Five are Late Woodland Native American sites, among them the Whitethorne site, a well-preserved village with good horizontal and vertical integrity. Because comparable villages in the county have been destroyed, this site is considered important for regional study. Other sites relate to nineteenth-century plantation life and early transportation routes.
Significance in brief: The district holds a sophisticated Federal and Greek Revival brick house and a largely intact nineteenth-century farm complex. It also contains thirteen archaeological sites, including Late Woodland Native American villages and camps and early river and creek fords. The Whitethorne site is described as especially significant because few Late Woodland villages survive in the region.
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 91000833, listed July 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | At end of VA 623 along New R., Blacksburg |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | July 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000833 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal; Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Prehistoric, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Agriculture, Transportation, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The property is still used as a single dwelling with secondary structures, and also as a research facility. Part of the Whitethorne site is in pasture and well preserved. |
| Acreage | 350 |
| Coordinates | 37.19243, -80.57262 (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 91000833.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712660
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.