Norfolk's historic Ghent neighborhood is a vibrant community filled to the brim with character, culture and delicious cuisine. The neighborhood's main thoroughfare, Colley Avenue, and adjacent 21st and 22nd streets are lined with eclectic eateries, unique shops, art galleries, and antique stores.
The Historic Ghent district in Norfolk, Va. was developed beginning in 1890, with most construction occurring between 1892 and 1907. Richard Drummond, a 19th-century Norfolk resident is credited with naming the neighborhood "Ghent". On December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed, ending the war of 1812. It is said that because one of his ships had the distinction of bringing the signed treaty to America, Drummond renamed his "Pleasant Point" house "Ghent " to commemorate the event. The Ghent Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
