The district features shaded winding residential lanes, and a large assemblage of well-preserved period buildings.

Congress Avenue is a major road passing through the district north from the junction of Springfield Pike and Oak Street.

Glendale was the brainchild of George Crawford and Henry Clark, two Ohio businessmen who saw the possibility of a suburban residential development along the railroad line of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railway.

200 acres (81 ha) were laid out by Robert Phillips, a civil engineer, and development proceeded once the railroad began running in 1851.

The village streets were at first lit by coal oil lamps, which were upgraded by 1872 to natural gas; these fixtures are still used.