179-5021

Brookneal Historic District

VLR Listing Date

03/17/2011

NRHP Listing Date

06/08/2011

NRHP Reference Number

11000348

The Brookneal Historic District includes more than 100 contributing buildings in business and residential blocks within the heart of the Town of Brookneal in Campbell County. From its beginnings in 1802 as a port on the Staunton River, Brookneal’s commerce was tied to the area’s agriculture and manufacturing—derived mostly from tobacco, furniture, and textiles. During the 19th century, the town’s central business district migrated away from the Staunton River and towards the Lynchburg & Durham Railroad (1890) and the Virginia Railway (1910), both of which linked the community with broader markets throughout Virginia and beyond. A fire in 1912 destroyed much of Brookneal’s central business district, subsequently resulting in the construction of multi-story masonry buildings. Brookneal became a hub for processing timber into furniture, lumber, and flooring, and during the later 20th century five tobacco warehouses operated in the town, inspecting $10 million of tobacco annually. Timber and tobacco industries were bolstered by textile manufacturing in the mid-20th century, as the town boomed with an economic base in tobacco, textiles, and timber products. Due to changing international markets, these industrial sectors declined in the late 20th century.

Last Updated: May 9, 2024

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

For additional information Read

Nomination Form

015-5604

Dixon Cemetery

Campbell (County)

015-0120

Mead’s Tavern

Campbell (County)

015-0220

The Grove

Campbell (County)