Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 04/22/1992
NRHP Listing Date 10/08/1992
NRHP Reference Number 92001266
Snugly situated on Onancock Creek, four miles inland from the Chesapeake Bay, Onancock was founded in 1680 and was Accomack’s first county seat. It has remained a thriving port for Virginia’s Eastern Shore since the late 17th century. The town was laid out in an irregular grid of fifty acres. Gradually expanded, it now has a population of about 1,700 and retains a slow-pace, small-town ambience. The historic district contains a rich variety of architectural styles spanning some 200 years. The buildings range from waterfront vernacular structures to the high-style Federal mansion Kerr Place. The five frame 19th-century churches, including the Methodist church pictured above, line Market Street and proclaim the long-standing importance of worship here. The commercial area is characterized by a medley of small-town mercantile buildings, most of which were constructed after a 1900 fire. Roomy frame houses with front porches are spread along the residential streets.
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: March 27, 2021
