Historic Resources Inventory

The inventory of historic resources is a community's official record of buildings, sites, and areas of architectural or cultural significance. In 1975, the first survey of Greensboro's historic resources was conducted by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. A more comprehensive survey was conducted in 1990, sponsored by the City and Preservation Greensboro Inc.

The 1990 survey included buildings and areas developed primarily before World War II. As a result of those surveys, three local historic districts, 10 National Register Historic Districts, and more than 60 individual landmarks have been officially designated. Local historic districts and landmarks are protected through the Certificate of Appropriateness design review process. National Register listing makes property owners eligible for historic rehabilitation tax credits and ensures that the property will be considered during the planning of federal undertakings like highway and redevelopment projects.

2006-2009 Survey Update

A major survey update was conducted between 2006 and 2009 by Circa Inc. of Raleigh. During the first two phases of the project, all properties surveyed in 1990 were checked to determine what has changed and other properties were identified that merit study. The 1990 survey files were entered into the statewide database and the City's geographic informations system.

The final phase focused on the period 1940 to 1965, when nearly 20,000 structures were built during a massive housing boom in Greensboro.