Gainsboro Historic District
Also known as: 128-5762
Why it's listed
Gainsboro is a 33-block neighborhood in Roanoke, Virginia, lying north of the railroad tracks and west of Interstate 581. It grew rapidly after 1882, when the Norfolk & Western Railway established its headquarters nearby and a subsidiary company built houses for railroad workers. Most of the district's resources date from 1865 to 1917, and the majority are two-story frame single-family homes. The housing shows Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Foursquare, Craftsman and other styles, alongside churches, a library, a theater, a hotel, medical offices and small commercial buildings. The neighborhood became the center of Roanoke's African-American community, and it includes the Henry Street commercial and entertainment area. Road projects and 1960s and 1970s redevelopment removed much of the surrounding historic fabric and weakened the commercial core, yet the street pattern and housing stock remain largely intact. The district was recognized for its connection to broad patterns of local history and for its architecture, with a period of significance running from 1834 to 1950.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be significant for its role as the center of Roanoke's African-American community, with associated commerce, entertainment, health care, and religion. It also contains a wide range of late 19th to mid-20th century architectural styles. It is described as one of the oldest neighborhoods in Roanoke and relatively intact despite road projects and redevelopment.
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 05001276, listed November 16, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by Wells, Centre, 1st St. Bridge and Gilmer, Commonwealth, N. Jefferson and 2nd., Patton, Harrison etc., Roanoke (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Roanoke (city and county) |
| Listed | November 16, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001276 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1834-1950 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, American Foursquare, Craftsman/Bungalow, Prairie, Tudor Revival, Art Deco, and vernacular styles |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Entertainment/Recreation, Health/Medicine, Black, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retains integrity as a residential neighborhood with remnants of its commercial and institutional core; some resources are demolished, and the First Baptist Church building of 1898-1900 is listed as demolished. |
| Acreage | 73.8 |
| Within district | Roanoke Downtown Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 37.27500, -79.94322 (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 05001276.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16891487
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.