The Downtown Portsmouth Historic District was listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register in 2002 and the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The existing district encompasses the original 1752 plan of the Town of Portsmouth, as well as its extensions up to and including 1909, and includes a mix of residential, commercial, religious, and institutional buildings constructed in a variety of architectural styles. This boundary increase nomination adds three areas totaling approximately 13 acres to the existing district at the northeast, south, and southwest edges. The expanded areas are primarily associated with mid-20th century urban renewal and are representative of commercial, religious, institutional, and government office expansion into Downtown Portsmouth.