The Fan, made up of nearly eighty-five city blocks, is one of Richmond’s oldest and most desirable neighborhoods. Located to the west of the city center, it is nestled between Broad Street to the north and Cary Street to the south. These two major roads help alleviate cut-through traffic in the district, giving the Fan a quaint, pedestrian-friendly feel. The suburban atmosphere is further enhanced by the neighborhood’s narrow streets, grid-like structure, and numerous grassy parks.

Up until 1900, the area was a vast, rural tract of tobacco fields. But by the 1920s, aggressive development had turned the neighborhood into a fashionable address boasting an impressive assortment of Italianate, Romanesque, Queen Anne, and Victorian houses. Many of these houses were originally laid out along the streetcar lines emanating from the downtown area, although the descriptive name “The Fan” wasn’t coined until the mid-1900s. Today it remains home to one of the nation’s largest collections of Victorian townhouses, earning the district a place on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.

The Fan is divided into two distinct sections: the eastern portion known as the Lower Fan and the western portion known as the Upper Fan. The Lower Fan is mostly populated with students, thanks to the nearby 88.2-acre Monroe campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. In contrast, the Upper Fan is predominantly populated with affluent young professionals who frequent the Fan’s diverse collection of upscale eateries and boutique shops. The local paper, FanFare, keeps the neighborhood’s residents apprised of community events like the annual Historic Fan District Holiday House Tour and the popular Monument Avenue Easter Parade.

While the Fan’s proximity to downtown Richmond gives it an undeniable appeal, the neighborhood’s real charm lies in its strong civic focus and its unswerving commitment to the preservation of its many historic landmarks. If you’re interested in finding homes for sale or real estate in the Fan, contact Erin Hungerford today.