It encompasses a predominantly residential area just east of Greenfield's central business district, historically where the town's wealthier residents lived, and features a wide variety of mainly 19th-century residential architecture.

[1] The city of Greenfield was settled as part of Deerfield in the 17th century, and was separately incorporated in 1753.

Due to its location near the confluence of the Deerfield and Connecticut Rivers, it developed in the 18th century as a regional center, and was named the shire town of Franklin County when it was established in 1813.

It has an area of about 33 acres (13 ha), and most of its architecture is residential, predominantly wood frame buildings of 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 stories.

The district's residents included the owners and management of major local businesses, as well as prominent lawyers and politicians.