Berkley Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Berkley Square
|
|
Several homes from the Berkley Square development.
|
|
 Location in Nevada
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | bounded by Byrnes Ave., D St., Leonard Ave., and G St. Las Vegas, Nevada |
|---|---|
| Built | 1954-1955 |
| Architect | Paul Revere Williams |
| Architectural style | Contemporary ranch |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000846 |
| Added to NRHP | October 23, 2009 |
Berkley Square is a special neighborhood in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was designed in 1949 by a famous architect named Paul R. Williams. The neighborhood is named after Thomas L. Berkley, who was an African American lawyer.
Berkley Square was built in the West Las Vegas area. This area was home to many African American families. The neighborhood has 148 homes. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. This means it is an important historical site.
Contents
What is Berkley Square?
Berkley Square was the first neighborhood in Nevada built especially for African American families. It was designed by Paul R. Williams from Los Angeles. He was a very well-known African American architect. He helped open doors for people of his race in the architecture world.
The Berkley Square Historic District is located about one and a half miles from downtown Las Vegas. It is near Owens Avenue and D Street. The neighborhood is surrounded by Byrnes and Leonard avenues. G and D Streets are also nearby.
The Homes and Their Design
The Historic District includes 148 houses. They were built between 1954 and 1955. The homes are in the Contemporary Ranch style. There were two main types of houses. They looked a bit different based on their roofs and front designs.
The neighborhood was planned very carefully. It followed the rules of the Federal Housing Administration. This showed that safety was important. For example, there were sidewalks separate from the streets. This made it safer for people walking. It also helped control traffic flow.
Why Was Berkley Square Built?
After World War II, many African American families moved to Las Vegas. The number grew from 150 in the 1930s to over 3,000 by the end of the war. By 1955, about 16,000 people lived in the Westside area of Las Vegas. Most of them were African American.
There was a big need for good homes for these families. At that time, many African American families could only live in certain areas, like the Westside. Berkley Square helped to create better living conditions for them.
A Place of Progress
In the late 1940s and 1950s, people in the community worked hard for change. Berkley Square shows the progress that was made. It also represents the huge building boom after World War II. Many new homes were built across the country during this time. Berkley Square remains a great example of a neighborhood from that period.
