Aberdeen Gardens (Hampton, Virginia) facts for kids
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Aberdeen Gardens
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Langston and Mary Peake Blvds., and Russell, Davis, Lewis, Weaver and Walker Rds., Hampton, Virginia |
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| Area | 110 acres (45 ha) |
| Built | 1934 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Queen Anne vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000456 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 26, 1994 |
Aberdeen Gardens is a special neighborhood in Hampton, Virginia, USA. It's known as a national historic district. This means it's a place with important history.
The neighborhood was part of a planned community. It was started by Hampton University as part of a big government program called the New Deal. This program helped people during a tough time in history.
Aberdeen Gardens is so important that it's listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. It includes 157 important buildings that tell its story.
Building a Community
Aberdeen Gardens was built to help African American workers and their families. These families lived in nearby Newport News and Hampton. It was the only community like this built for African Americans in Virginia by the Resettlement Administration. This was a government agency that helped people find new homes.
The community was carefully planned. It covers about 440 acres (178 hectares) of land. It includes 158 single-family homes, a school, and a place for shops.
The streets in Aberdeen Gardens have special names. Seven of the streets are named after famous African Americans. These include Lewis Road, Weaver Road, Walker Road, Mary Peake Boulevard, Davis Road, Russell Road, and Langston Boulevard. Building started in 1934 and was finished in 1937.
A Place of History
Aberdeen Gardens was officially recognized as a historic district in 1994. It was added to the Virginia State Register of Historic Landmarks and the National Register of Historic Places. This shows how important the neighborhood is to history.
There's a special plaque that tells part of its story. It says that Aberdeen Gardens was built by African Americans for African Americans. It started in 1934 as a model community for families. It was the only community in the United States designed by an African American architect, Hilyard R. Robinson. It was also built by African American contractors and workers.
The plaque explains that Aberdeen Gardens has 158 brick houses with big gardens. It also has a school and a community store. All of this is surrounded by green spaces. Aberdeen Gardens gave families a chance to own their own homes. It also offered a better life in a peaceful, rural setting.
Former and current residents worked hard to get this neighborhood recognized. Their efforts helped Aberdeen Gardens become a nationally important historic place.
