The Garfield/Green Street Historic District has officially been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing the historic and cultural significance of one of Statesville’s most important African American neighborhoods.
The designation became effective December 29, 2025, and the City of Statesville received formal written notification on February 26, 2026. The recognition was acknowledged by the Statesville City Council during its March 16 meeting. The district includes the historic Green Street Cemetery, established in 1886 as the Black burial ground in Statesville, as well as Garfield Park and numerous homes, churches and community landmarks that reflect generations of heritage, resilience and community pride.
The listing follows several years of research, documentation and collaboration between City Preservation staff, the Statesville African American Heritage Preservation Commission and Iredell County Library local historians.
City staff and the Statesville African American Heritage Preservation Commission are planning a community celebration in summer 2026 to commemorate this milestone.
Update: August 21, 2025
The 190-page Nomination for the Garfield/Green Street Proposed Historic District will be reviewed at the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Meeting on August 28, 2025. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has completed its review, and all revisions have been incorporated by the state and the project consultants to ensure the document meets SHPO requirements.
In addition to the nomination, a 395-page report was completed as part of the project contract. This detailed document compiles an inventory of the district, including each building, its history, and current photographs. This resource provides the community with a valuable record of the district’s historic structures.
The next steps in the process include:
About the National Register of Historic Places
Established under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register of Historic Places is administered by the National Park Service. It serves as the nation’s official list of historic and archaeological sites considered significant and worthy of preservation. The program is a nationwide initiative that brings together public and private efforts to recognize, protect, and preserve places that hold cultural, historical, and architectural importance.
Last week’s public meeting for the proposed Garfield/Green Street Historic District was a great success, drawing a strong turnout from neighbors, community leaders, and history enthusiasts.
The session featured a detailed presentation by Nick Linville of Linville Historical Consulting and Susan Mayer of SVM Historical Consulting, who shared their research and findings supporting the historic significance of this vibrant area of Statesville.
Residents learned how the district reflects key elements of our city's past – especially in the areas of Ethnic Heritage, Social History, and Civil Rights.
Highlights of the presentation included:
Attendees also asked thoughtful questions and shared personal stories that underscored the importance of preserving this heritage.
Next steps? The consulting team will move forward with preparing the nomination for the National Register of Historic Places – a crucial milestone that recognizes the district’s historical and cultural value on a national level.
Want to dive deeper into the details? Check out the full presentation here.
Thank you to everyone who participated and continues to support this important initiative to honor and preserve Statesville’s rich history.
First Baptist Church
You are invited to voice your opinions, ask questions, and contribute to meaningful decisions that impact the Garfield/Green Street National Historic District.
Learn more about the event here.
Update: September 12, 2023
On Tuesday evening (September 12, 2023), Statesville City Manager Ron Smith led a Town Hall meeting aimed at updating residents on the potential historic district in the Garfield/Green Street area. During this meeting, a presentation was conducted delivering insights into the status of grants and available funding opportunities. Marci Sigmon, the City's Historic Planner, and Matthew Pierce, Assistant to the City Manager, also played pivotal roles in contributing to the presentation. Mayor Costi Kutteh, Councilwoman Doris Allison, and Councilman Frederick Foster were in attendance and provided support as well.
Efforts to Date for National Registry Listing
Four (4) Local Historic Districts
Two (2) National Historic Districts
Four (4) Local Historic Districts (Regulated by Statesville’s Historic Preservation Standards)
Two (2) National Historic Districts
| National Register of Historic Places | Local Designations |
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A community in a "$40 billion city"...
A: The City has a tax base of $4B, not $40B.
How can Black members of the community be part of city planning for conservation in the city, especially in professional roles that are planning preservation involving local descendants - and not solely dictated to minimal services?... cleaning headstones without a preservation plan or overseer expertise and beyond boundaries of employee descriptions.
A: Pending Council approval, the development of the overall plan for a district should probably include a group that can provide input, advice, assistance, etc. to ensure the project is done equitably and accurately.
How can collaboration include checks and balances in place to avoid unnecessary individual bias? ...cultural appropriation such as what was evident with those on site making unplanned decisions at the burial ground this year.
A: The last project was done by the County, and the City acted in a support role. However, the staff involved at the County level did everything in good faith, and without them the project may not have happened.
How can city agenda practices be better shared with community members, so that community issues are addressed in a timely manner - beyond public comment?
A: The City tries to distribute information on its website and through social media to inform the public, including all community members, about happenings in the City and in neighborhoods. To this topic, grant updates have been given on multiple occasions at City Council meetings, where it appears members of the community have been advised to attend. There are many times, when asked, there is no news to share. However, as we move through the grant process staff can put out periodic updates through an email list.
How can appropriate funding and awards for conservation planning be transparent and approved via consideration with public input? ... brochure published to share plans decided on.
A: A committee is probably the best route for this. For instance, we are moving forward with a committee request for the RAISE Grant and Brownfields Grant at the next Council meeting. These are not official capacity commissions such as the Planning Board or Historic Preservation Commission but will help guide the process. All grants are approved by the City Council.
How can issues that go unaddressed for a prolonged period be investigated and/or responded to with resolutions? ... missing documentation on ground markings of possible buried headstones.
A: This could potentially be a project in the future but is generally not within the City’s purview.
How can community members that may not share a popular point of view or differ in an opinion be respected for participating at council? ...Treated like we are on the same team and not like we don't belong in the building.
A: The public comment process is set to hear concerns, issues, and praises. The Council has the policy of not responding to these comments at the meeting based on time, the ability to research, and meeting constraints. However, issues that warrant a response are generally dealt with by the staff, Mayor, or Council and then forwarded to the person that commented. Many times, we take the comments and move on them without further notice to the public.
How can a perceived unethical action be investigated (.i.e., spending public funds without approved authority)? ... Change a project objective but not seek additional funding for a different objective.
A: Again, the cemetery project was the County’s not the City’s. Any breach of the grant would have to be taken up with the granting authority.
