Shortly after the Texan’s victory in the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, Augustus and John Allen purchased 6,642 acres of land for $5,000 and named the new land Houston after the war hero Sam Houston. Downtownhouston.org reports that the original land plots in Houston were sold for $1.00/acre. Now, Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and is known for its unparalleled diversity and culture. We’ve compiled a list of four great suburbs in Houston and their history, as well as what they look like today!
Market Square (originally named Congress Square) was Houston’s original town center. It served as the location for four City Halls spanning 100 years. Home to produce stands and fish markets, it was truly the heart of the city. It has gone through major transformations over the years, serving as the hot spot for night life in the 60s and early 70s. It wasn’t until the mid 70s and 80s that Market Square Park got transformed into what we know of it today, with the addition of greenery and local art. Apartments such as Aris Market Square and Catalyst have excellent walkability and are one of many beautiful residences in Market Square.
2. River Oaks
River Oaks, from its very beginning, has been one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the nation. This suburb was developed by Hugh Potter and William and Michael Hogg in the 1920s. In 1925, Country Club Estates was established inside the community. There were very strict regulations when it came to developing this neighborhood. It was mandatory that all parks and esplanades inside the River Oaks community were planted with only oak trees. The community was created to showcase an exemplary standard of living, as well as exemplary preservation of the surrounding natural environment. The notability of the residences in River Oaks still reigns true today, with the average home price being between three and four million dollars. Check out the listing page on our website to see a full list of all River Oaks homes for sale!
3. The Heights
First developed as a separate city from Houston, The Heights is rich in history. It was founded in the early 1890s by a man named Oscar Martin Carter. Carter knew that Houston was destined for major growth, and prepped his newly found city of The Heights to be a perfect refuge for people to relocate when Houston got overpopulated. The Heights was annexed by the City of Houston in 1919. This neighborhood, much like Market Square, has gone through a lot of transitional periods over the years. Due to the lack of zoning laws in the World War II era, much of The Heights was left impoverished by the 1970s. It wasn’t until the 1990s that young professionals started to flood back into the suburb, purchasing and renovating homes. Now, The Heights is consistently ranked among the top big city neighborhoods in the country. Our website has a full list of all available properteis located in The Heights!
4. Spring Branch
With a history older than the city of Houston itself, Spring Branch has one of the most unique origin stories in all of the Houston suburbs. It was founded by a German immigrant named Karl Kolbe who settled in the bank of a creek that emptied into the Buffalo Bayou in 1830. It was given the name of Spring Branch due to the natural spring that fed streams around the area. It’s population was mainly German immigrants in the beginning, but quickly grew and diversified. Today, the Independent School District in Spring Branch is consistently ranked as one of the best in the city. To see a full list of all available properties in Spring Branch, feel free to check out the listings page on our webiste.