Melrose-Rugby is located in north, central Roanoke, and is bound by Orange Avenue, Lafayette Boulevard, Interstate 581 and Washington Park. Initially developed between 1889 and 1920 as a result of the construction of the Salem-Melrose streetcar line by 1890, Melrose-Rugby is regarded as one of Roanoke's initial suburbs. Due to the historic nature of the area, in 2002 Melrose-Rugby was designated as Roanoke's first Neighborhood Design District.