National Register of Historic Places

Newtown Cemetery

Harrisonburg (Independent City), Harrisonburg County, Virginia
Listed
February 17, 2015
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
15000014

About this property

Newtown Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is located in the northern part of the city, bounded on the north by Kelley Street and the west by Sterling Street. It is bisected by an extension of Effinger Street, which now serves as part of the cemetery's circulation roads. The roughly 4-acre (1.6 ha) parcel has been the primary burial ground for the city's African-American dead since its founding in 1869. It is estimated to hold 900 graves, including many of emancipated slaves. Buried at Newtown are individuals who influenced the lives of people in the Newtown community, the city of Harrisonburg, and Rockingham County and the central Shenandoah Valley as well. Notable burials include educator Lucy F. Simms and veterans of the US Colored Troops. The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

Location

Harrisonburg (Independent City), Harrisonburg County, Virginia
38.45318, -78.85894

Categories

BLACK
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
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
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
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
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Literature
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Simms, Lucy F., School
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hockman, Anthony, House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
Old Town Historic District
Listed
0.6 mi
Rockinghan County Courthouse
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Newtown Cemetery listed on the National Register?

Newtown Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 17, 2015.

What type of historic resource is Newtown Cemetery?

Newtown Cemetery is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Newtown Cemetery?

The period of significance for Newtown Cemetery is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Newtown Cemetery?

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