Richlands Historic District
Also known as: Vdhr# 148-5014
Why it's listed
Richlands, in western Tazewell County, Virginia, was planned in 1888 by the Clinch Valley Coal and Iron Company in anticipation of the Norfolk and Western Railroad's arrival the next year. Its historic district covers roughly nineteen blocks of the town center and includes 91 contributing and 15 noncontributing buildings. About 55 percent of the district is residential and 45 percent commercial, and it includes three churches. Two-story brick commercial buildings line Front and Second streets and Suffolk Avenue, with a few early examples featuring cast iron or rock-faced stone. North of the commercial core are modest houses ranging from Late Victorian to Bungalow, Foursquare, Colonial Revival and Cape Cod types. A railroad section house from about 1889 also survives. The district is significant for its architecture and for the town's planning and commerce between about 1889 and 1956. A nearby brick factory and the rail line helped a remote boom town build in fashionable styles.
Significance in brief: The district is locally significant for Architecture (Criterion C) and for Community Planning and Commerce (Criterion A). Its buildings show the popular styles of c. 1889 to 1956 and reflect the founders' vision of a 'Pittsburgh of the South'. Rail access and local brick production helped the boom town build in up-to-date styles.
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 07000394, listed May 2, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Includes portions of Front, Second, Third, Fourth Sts., and Grayson Ave., Lee St., Washington Sq. and Suffolk Ave., Richlands |
|---|---|
| County | Tazewell County |
| Listed | May 2, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000394 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c. 1889-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian; Colonial Revival and Gothic Revival; Bungalow/Craftsman; Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mixed residential and commercial use, with three churches; the railroad depot has been demolished and the form lists some vacant resources. |
| Acreage | 40 |
| Coordinates | 37.09503, -81.78915 (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 07000394.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7330709
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.