Nystrom Village

Historic Home in Nystrom Village

Jet Lowe, Library of Congress. HAER CA-326-O

Quick Facts

Location:

Richmond, California

A Glimpse into Wartime Housing

Nystrom Village is a historic housing complex located on Maine, Virginia, and Florida Avenues between 13th and 16th streets. The village comprises 51 single-story duplexes, thoughtfully arranged around central open spaces. This design shares many attributes with Atchison Village, the only other surviving defense housing project in the Richmond area.

Built during World War II, Nystrom Village was intended to provide housing for defense workers and their families. Today, the complex remains largely intact and is administered as low-income housing by the Richmond Housing Authority. The units range in size, offering one, two, and three-bedroom accommodations to residents.

Future Plans and Historical Significance

Plans for the future of Nystrom Village include refitting one of the houses as an exhibit dedicated to showcasing daily wartime home life. This exhibit will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the living conditions and community atmosphere of the 1940s.

Nystrom Village Housing Architecture

Nystrom Village consists of 51 single-story duplexes arranged around central open spaces, reflecting the community-focused design principles of the era. Built during World War II to accommodate the influx of workers, the architecture of Nystrom Village emphasizes practicality and economy. The buildings feature straightforward designs with minimal ornamentation, focusing on durability and ease of construction.

The duplexes are typically one-, two-, or three-bedroom units, each with its own entrance and small garden area. The layout of the village promotes a sense of community, with shared open spaces encouraging interaction among residents. The simple, sturdy construction has allowed these buildings to endure over the decades, and they are now managed as low-income housing by the Richmond Housing Authority.

Note: Visitors may drive through the area and see the historic homes. However, please be respectful of residents. There are no NPS staff members on site. 

• Audio Stop: Nystrom Village

  
  

  This brief audio stop takes a look at a WWII Home Front housing area that was available to some shipyard workers during WWII.

  Credit / Author:

  NPS/Luther Bailey

  Audio Transcript

  Nystrom Village is situated on Maine, Virginia and Florida Avenues between 13th and 16th Streets, with 51 single-story duplexes arranged around central open spaces. It shares many design attributes with Atchison Village, the only other surviving defense housing project in the area.

  Today, the complex of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units is largely intact and is administered as low-income housing by the Richmond Housing Authority. Future plans for the park include refitting one of the houses as an exhibit on daily war-time home life that will eventually be open to visitors.