Petersburg Old Town Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Also known as: See Also:City Market; Exchange Building; Farmers' Bank; Friend,; Dhr Id#: 123-0097
Why it's listed
Old Town is the earliest section of Petersburg, Virginia, laid out along the fall line of the Appomattox River. The district covers about 190 acres and more than 250 buildings, mixing homes, shops, warehouses and factories from the late 18th through 20th centuries. Styles range from late Georgian and Federal to Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne. Highlights include early 19th-century worker cottages, the High Street houses, the Greek Revival Exchange Building of 1840-41, and railroad-era depots and warehouses. Its importance comes from both architecture and history: the area grew around Fort Henry and the Peter Jones trading post, became a leading tobacco and milling center by the 1760s, and by 1860 was served by four railroads and a canal. Demolition and neglect have left gaps in the streetscape, but historic zoning since 1973 and rehabilitation along High and Old streets have supported renewal.
Significance in brief: The district reflects Petersburg's growth from a colonial trading post and tobacco center into a major 19th-century manufacturing and railroad hub. It also holds a wide range of residential, commercial and industrial architecture representing nearly all styles popular in the United States from 1800 to 1910. Notable groups include early worker cottages and High Street houses.
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 80004314, listed July 4, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by Appomattox River and Norfolk Southern RR tracks; I95 and N. Madison St.; to Bollingbrook St,. E. Bank and W. Bank St., Brick House Run, and Commerce St.; and to Dunlop St. and railroad bed of Seaboard Coast Line and piers Seaboard Air Line, Petersburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Petersburg |
| Listed | July 4, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004314 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, and Colonial/Georgian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Military, Transportation, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mixed condition: many buildings are in disrepair and some have been lost to vacant and parking lots, while revitalization is succeeding along High and Old streets. Historic district zoning was enacted in 1973. |
| Acreage | 190 |
| Coordinates | 37.23192, -77.40514 (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 80004314.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16898252
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.