The North Fork Valley of the Roanoke River extends for approximately nine miles within Montgomery County, from the Roanoke County line to Lusters Gate. The exceptionally scenic area, listed in the registers under the Prehistoric and Historic Resources of Montgomery County Multiple Property Document, preserves an agrarian landscape of historic significance spanning the years from 1746 to the 1940s. The tangible relics of agricultural practices include fields, fence lines, barns, and other farm structures. Farm buildings of the early 20th century make up the majority of the resources in the North Fork Valley Rural Historic District. The domestic buildings cover a broad range of vernacular and high-style house types, mostly dating from the early 19th century on. Log structures are common. The I-house, either brick or frame, was a popular house form. Many of the early houses preserve outbuildings such as smokehouses, offices, and springhouses, usually placed adjacent to vegetable gardens. A focal point of the North Fork Valley Rural Historic District is the frame McDonalds Mill, which was erected in the 1850s.

A 2020 update to the nomination for the North Fork Valley Rural Historic District includes a detailed architectural analysis of the district’s historic resources, a full, updated inventory of all resources within the district’s boundaries, and additional information about the district’s history that justifies extending the end of its period of significance from the 1940s to 1970.
[NRHP Approved: 5/26/2021]