National Register of Historic Places

Aberdeen Gardens

Hampton (Independent City), Hampton County, Virginia
Listed
May 25, 1994
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
94000456

About this property

Aberdeen Gardens is a national historic district located at Hampton, Virginia, United States. The district was part of a planned community initiated by Hampton University under New Deal legislation. The neighborhood is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. The district encompasses 157 contributing buildings. The community was designed for the resettlement of African American workers in Newport News and Hampton. It was the only such Resettlement Administration community for blacks in Virginia. The seven streets within the community, excluding Aberdeen Road, are named for prominent African Americans: (1) Lewis Road, (2) Weaver Road, (3) Walker Road, (4) Mary Peake Boulevard, (5) Davis Road, (6) Russell Road, and (7) Langston Boulevard. The community is a 440-acre (180 ha) subdivision, including 158 single-family homes, one school, and a commercial center. The community started construction in 1934 and was finished three years later, in 1937. "Built by Negroes for Negroes, Aberdeen Gardens began in 1934 as the model resettlement community for Negro families. It was the only such community in the United States designed by a Negro architect (Hilyard R. Robinson) and built by Negro contractors and laborers. Aberdeen Gardens is composed of 158 brick houses on large garden lots, a school, and a community store, all within a greenbelt. The streets, excepting Aberdeen Road, are named for prominent Negroes. Aberdeen Gardens offered home ownership and an improved quality of life in a rural setting. In 1994 this nationally significant neighborhood was listed as a Virginia landmark and in the National Register of Historic Places, through the efforts of former and current residents." Aberdeen Gardens Heritage Committee. Aberdeen Gardens. Mount Pleasant: Arcadia Publishing (2007). ISBN 0738552925 Virginia Official Tourism site – Aberdeen Gardens Information

Location

Hampton (Independent City), Hampton County, Virginia
37.03432, -76.40556

Categories

ARCHITECTURECOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTBLACKPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTSOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Quarters 17
Industrial
2.3 mi
Greenlawn Cemetery
Listed
2.6 mi
Smith's Pharmacy
Industrial
2.9 mi
Old Wythe Historic District
Listed
3 mi
Newsome, J. Thomas, House
Industrial
3.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Big Bethel
1861Civil War
1.7 mi
Battle of Hampton Roads (1776)
1776Revolutionary War
2.4 mi
Naval Engagement at Hampton Roads (CSS Albemarle sortie)
1864Civil War
2.5 mi
Big Bethel
1861Civil War
2.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Aberdeen Gardens listed on the National Register?

Aberdeen Gardens was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 25, 1994.

What type of historic resource is Aberdeen Gardens?

Aberdeen Gardens is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Aberdeen Gardens?

The period of significance for Aberdeen Gardens is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Aberdeen Gardens?

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