Assessing Factors Associated With Listing a Historic Resource in the National Register of Historic Places

Previous research reveals various economic and social impacts in the community from listing historic resources in the National Register of Historic Places; however, information on underlying community factors that influence these listings has not been examined and could be useful for policy makers. The current study examines the socioeconomic, institutional, and location factors influencing the listing of historic resources in the National Register in the Appalachian state of West Virginia.Two separate models of total historic listings and rate of historic house listings in the National Register identify the following: number of higher education institutions and older houses, rural area, more than one historic preservation organization, proportion of females, and the share of income in the service economy. Age, poverty rate, and the Gini coefficient of income inequality have an inverse relationship with listing.