Old Southwest, Roanoke, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Old Southwest is a neighborhood of the independent city
of Roanoke
, Virginia
, U.S.A.. Located geographically near the center of the city, Old Southwest was annexed from Roanoke County
in 1890 and developed as one of Roanoke's more affluent residential areas. Today the majority of the neighborhood falls within the Southwest Historic District
listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register
and the National Register of Historic Places
.
) on the east, 10th Street to the west, the Norfolk and Western railroad tracks to the south and both Day and Marshall Avenue to the north. It borders the neighborhoods of the Mountain View
on the west, Wasena
on the south and west, South Jefferson
on the south and east, Downtown on the north and east and West End
on the north.
in 1890, the area now defined as Old Southwest was developed primarily between the years 1882 and 1930, to the southwest of Downtown Roanoke
. The neighborhood is predominantly residential with commercial generally concentrated along and east of Franklin Road. The neighborhood features a variety of architectural styles including but not limited to Queen Anne
, Colonial Revival
, Neoclassical
, Bungalow
, American Foursquare
, Arts and Crafts
and Shingle, in addition to Roanoke's first public park, Highland Park, opened in 1901.
Old Southwest would grow to become one of Roanoke's premier residential areas from its initial establishment through the years following World War Two when it would see the beginnings of a decline. By the 1970s, the neighborhood would begin to see a turnaround and the subsequent establishment of the Southwest Historic District in 1985. the neighborhood boasts a number of carefully preserved historic buildings, including the Beth Israel Synagogue (Roanoke, Virginia)
. More recent improvements to the neighborhood include the completion of Roanoke's first off-leash fenced dog park, which opened in May 2009 and is located in Highland Park., the Cotton Mill downtown housing project and the Fork in the City restaurant.
The neighborhood and its non-profit civic organization, Old Southwest, Inc has been recognized several times, including several national awards, including the Grand Prize 2010 National Neighborhood of the Year award and First Place in the Social Revitalization category from Neighborhoods USA. It was previously recognized in 2008 with a second place award in the Social Revitalization category from Neighborhoods USA
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, U.S.A.. Located geographically near the center of the city, Old Southwest was annexed from Roanoke County
Roanoke County, Virginia
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376...
in 1890 and developed as one of Roanoke's more affluent residential areas. Today the majority of the neighborhood falls within the Southwest Historic District
Southwest Historic District
Southwest Historic District may refer to:* Southwest Holly Springs Historic District, Holly Springs, MS, listed on the NRHP in Mississippi* Southwest Historic District , listed on the NRHP in North Carolina...
listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register
Virginia Landmarks Register
The Virginia Landmarks Register is a list of historic properties in the state of Virginia. The state's official list of important historic sites, it was created in 1966. The Register serves the same purpose as the National Register of Historic Places...
and the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Location
Geographically, Old Southwest is defined by the city as the area bound by Jefferson Street (Virginia State Route 116Virginia State Route 116
Virginia State Route 116 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from SR 122 at Burnt Chimney north to SR 101 in Roanoke. SR 116 connects northwestern Franklin County with the southeastern part of Roanoke...
) on the east, 10th Street to the west, the Norfolk and Western railroad tracks to the south and both Day and Marshall Avenue to the north. It borders the neighborhoods of the Mountain View
Mountain View, Roanoke, Virginia
Mountain View is a Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood located in central Roanoke north of the Roanoke River. It borders the neighborhoods of Norwich on the west, West End on the east, Hurt Park on the north and Raleigh Court and Wasena on the south....
on the west, Wasena
Wasena, Roanoke, Virginia
Wasena is a Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood located in south, central Roanoke bisected by U.S. Route 221 , immediately to the south of the Roanoke River...
on the south and west, South Jefferson
South Jefferson, Roanoke, Virginia
South Jefferson is a Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood located in southeast Roanoke, surrounded roughly by the Roanoke River to the south and east and the Roy L. Webber Expressway to the west, centered on South Jefferson Street...
on the south and east, Downtown on the north and east and West End
West End, Roanoke, Virginia
West End is a Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood located in central Roanoke south of the Norfolk Southern railyard. It borders the neighborhoods of Hurt Park and Mountain View on the west, Downtown on the east, Gilmer on the north across the Norfolk Southern railyard and Old Southwest on the...
on the north.
History
Annexed from Roanoke CountyRoanoke County, Virginia
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376...
in 1890, the area now defined as Old Southwest was developed primarily between the years 1882 and 1930, to the southwest of Downtown Roanoke
Downtown Roanoke
Downtown is the central business district of Roanoke, Virginia, United States. Located geographically at the center of the city, Downtown began its development with the completion of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in 1882...
. The neighborhood is predominantly residential with commercial generally concentrated along and east of Franklin Road. The neighborhood features a variety of architectural styles including but not limited to Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
, Colonial Revival
Colonial Revival architecture
The Colonial Revival was a nationalistic architectural style, garden design, and interior design movement in the United States which sought to revive elements of Georgian architecture, part of a broader Colonial Revival Movement in the arts. In the early 1890s Americans began to value their own...
, Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
, Bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
, American Foursquare
American Foursquare
The American Foursquare or American Four Square is an American house style popular from the mid-1890s to the late 1930s. A reaction to the ornate and mass produced elements of the Victorian and other Revival styles popular throughout the last half of the 19th century, the American Foursquare was...
, Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
and Shingle, in addition to Roanoke's first public park, Highland Park, opened in 1901.
Old Southwest would grow to become one of Roanoke's premier residential areas from its initial establishment through the years following World War Two when it would see the beginnings of a decline. By the 1970s, the neighborhood would begin to see a turnaround and the subsequent establishment of the Southwest Historic District in 1985. the neighborhood boasts a number of carefully preserved historic buildings, including the Beth Israel Synagogue (Roanoke, Virginia)
Beth Israel Synagogue (Roanoke, Virginia)
Beth Israel Synagogue is a Conservative synagogue located at 920 Franklin Road in Roanoke, Virginia. It was founded in 1900, and had a membership of approximately 160 families and individuals....
. More recent improvements to the neighborhood include the completion of Roanoke's first off-leash fenced dog park, which opened in May 2009 and is located in Highland Park., the Cotton Mill downtown housing project and the Fork in the City restaurant.
The neighborhood and its non-profit civic organization, Old Southwest, Inc has been recognized several times, including several national awards, including the Grand Prize 2010 National Neighborhood of the Year award and First Place in the Social Revitalization category from Neighborhoods USA. It was previously recognized in 2008 with a second place award in the Social Revitalization category from Neighborhoods USA