Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 12/01/1999
NRHP Listing Date 02/04/2000
NRHP Reference Number 00000065
The Downtown Chilhowie Historic District is a small commercial center along the Interstate 81 corridor in southwest Virginia’s Smyth County. The advent of the railroad in the mid-19th-century stimulated the construction of the first industries and stores in the area, and a number of substantial brick and weatherboarded houses were built by nearby farming families. The exclusively commercial buildings primarily date from 1900 to 1930, reflecting the era of Chilhowie’s founding in the late-19th-century, during which time industrial, commercial, and residential growth transformed the community from a depot village to a small regional center.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: August 6, 2021
