Historic Oakwood, Raleigh, NC

Historic Oakwood is a residential neighborhood located in the center of Raleigh.  Oakwood is the oldest intact neighborhood in Raleigh, and since 1974 has been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Historic Oakwood is a residential neighborhood located in the center of Raleigh.  Oakwood is the oldest intact neighborhood in Raleigh, and since 1974 has been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

One will find Oakwood to be a vibrant yet peaceful neighborhood, nestled in huge Oak trees just two blocks from downtown Raleigh museums and goverment buildings on Jones Ave. 

There are over 400 homes in Oakwood, a mixture of one and two-story buildings with most being built from 1880-1910. The architecture is “late Victorian,” an eclectic style which many current homeowners have nicely preserved and or renovated.  Lots are smaller lending to that old, hometown feel, and prices hover in the $200s and $300s. 

Points of Interest within walking distance of the neighborhood include the bordering historic Oakwood Cemetery, the Side Street Cafe, Peace College and the Oakwood Inn.  RDU International Airport is 20 minutes by car.  

History of Oakwood
The Oakwood area was developed in the 1870’s when the first of the present houses was built on lands formerly owned by the locally prominent plantation family, the Mordecai's. The area was first known as Mordecai Grove.  The name Oakwood, like that of the nearby cemetery, traces back to the many Oak trees in the area.

In 1972 a small group of residents organized the Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood in order to save the area from being destroyed by a major thoroughfare. With the existing streetscape saved, revitalization projects increased and the original purpose of the Society broadened to include a full range of restoration activities on a voluntary, non-profit basis.