Whether you’re looking for an historic home in one of Austin’s designated Historic Districts, or just an older, unique home that can’t be replicated, there are certain neighborhoods in Austin where you’ll find more than others. Here we’ll list the best historic neighborhoods in Austin, show you where you can find them and give you a little history about each.
Mapped: Best Historic Neighborhoods in Austin
Clarksville
Clarksville has a very interesting history dating back to the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865. Gov. Pease donated the land that is now Clarksville to some of his favorite former slaves. In 1871 Charles Clark, a former slave, established one of the first freedmen’s towns west of the Mississippi River on this land and called it Clarksville. In 1976, the Clarksville Historic District was inducted into the National Register of Historic Places. With this rich history, Clarksville is one of the most popular places for historic homes that are on the more modest side. You might even find some historic carriage houses or multi family dwellings.
For more info and to search homes for sale, visit our Clarksville Neighborhood Guide.
Clarksville Historic Homes for Sale
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Downtown Austin
The West Line Historic District is located in the western corner of Downtown Austin and is where you’ll find the majority of the Craftsman and Classical Revival influenced bungalows built in the 1910’s and 1930’s. This set of historic homes grew popular with the West Sixth Street Car line and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Some of the oldest historic homes in the West Line Historic District once sat on estate sized lots that were subdivided as the city’s population exploded. As you go towards the N Lamar Blvd border of Downtown Austin, you’ll find many late 19th and early 20th Century homes. These homes were often the “country” homes of wealthy Downtown Austin residents, so you’ll get more stately mansions and intricate details in the craftsmanship. Some have been updated to a more modern style inside and others have kept the time period of the property.
For more info and to search homes for sale, visit our Downtown Austin Neighborhood Guide.
Downtown Austin Historic Homes for Sale
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Bryker Woods
Dating back to the late 19th Century with the majority of the growth in the late 1930’s, Bryker Woods is one of the quieter neighborhoods where you’ll find historic homes. After the streetcar made Clarksville accessible to Downtown, Old Enfield, Bryker Woods and Pemberton Heights grew when the automobile became mainstream. Bryker Woods is one of three neighborhoods that belong to the Old West Austin Historic District, which has nearly 1,475 properties of historical significance. This district was established in 2003, when the expansion of MoPac threatened 80 homes and is one of the reasons MoPac’s expansion project took so long. Whereas Pemberton Heights leans more towards the larger mansions, Bryker Woods is where you’ll find the smaller historic homes with the same quality of craftsmanship.
For more info and to search homes for sale, visit our Bryker Woods Neighborhood Guide.
Bryker Woods Historic Homes for Sale
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Old Enfield
As Austin’s population grew in the early 20th Century with the advent of the streetcar, the neighborhood that is now Old Enfield began to take shape. Subdivided from the Pease Estate in 1910, Old Enfield’s colonial style homes have been the residences of many famous lawmakers, judges, UT Faculty and coaches. Perhaps the most popular historic home in Old Enfield is Woodlawn, built by the architect who built the Governor’s Mansion, Abner Cook. With both more modest homes 1,900 sq ft or smaller and stately mansions closer to Pease Park, the neighborhood has something for everyone. Today, Old Enfield is a place to find historic homes built in the early 1900’s. Lots sizes are mostly ¼ acre or smaller, with 5,000 sq ft homes sitting on nearly ½ acre, so if you’re looking for historic and don’t want a large parcel, Old Enfield might be the place to start your search.
For more info and to search homes for sale, visit our Old Enfield Neighborhood Guide.
Old Enfield Historic Homes for Sale
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Pemberton Heights
Just north of Old Enfield, Pemberton Heights was the first automobile suburb developed mostly in the early 1900’s, with some late 19th Century homes. Known for its stately, historic mansions on larger than average lots, you can still find a more modest historic home if you get lucky. Perhaps the most popular historic home in Pemberton Heights is the Pemberton Castle located at 1415 Woolridge. Over 25 Pemberton Heights structures have made their way the Austin Historic Landmarks list, which includes the Windsor Road Bridge. This bridge was added not only because of its construction date (1928), but because of the part it played in connecting Pemberton Heights to Downtown over Shoal Creek. The neighborhood belongs to the Old West Austin Historic District and residents are committed to preserving the historical significance of the neighborhood.
For more info and to search homes for sale, visit our Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Guide.
Pemberton Heights Historic Homes for Sale
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Travis Heights
Travis Heights was the first neighborhood developed south of the river. What started off as a more suburban location only accessible by ferry, Travis Heights began to take shape after the construction of the South Congress bridge in 1876. When the city extended its streetcar line south of the river, the neighborhood grew even faster. Though the Travis Heights is not a designated historic area, one is currently being proposed to preserve the area’s historic homes. Travis Heights is one of the few historic neighborhoods where you can still find pre-1900 construction and is one of the reasons many are attracted to Travis Heights, even without a formal historic district.
For more info and to search homes for sale, visit our Travis Heights Neighborhood Guide.
Travis Heights Historic Homes for Sale
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North University
North University is where the first home north of UT was built, but was later sold and torn down to build a barn. The next oldest home that remains standing dates back to the 1860’s and was the home and general store of Austin’s first butcher. The Indian Wars in the 1840s destroyed some of North University and slowed its growth as it was deemed an unsafe area. As the war came to an end, that stigma lifted and building took off. Over the next couple of decades, North University became a more desirable residential area and attracted residents to build the historic homes we see there today. Comprised mostly of Arts and Crafts style homes and bungalows, North University is the ideal place for someone looking for an historic home north of the UT campus.
For more info and to search homes for sale, visit our North University Neighborhood Guide.
North University Historic Homes for Sale
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Hyde Park
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, the Hyde Park Historic District has mostly Bungalows and Victorian and Tudor Revival architecture. From a numbers standpoint, Hyde Park has more historic homes than many of these other districts. The wide streets, mature trees, quality craftsmanship and early 20th Century construction are a lot of what draws residents to Hyde Park. Though there are no well known estates in Hyde Park like there are in Pemberton Heights and Old Enfield, Hyde Park is usually more desirable for someone who wants walkability.
For more info and to search homes for sale, visit our Hyde Park Neighborhood Guide.
Hyde Park Historic Homes for Sale
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East Austin – East Cesar Chavez
Though not many think East Austin when they think of historic homes, there are several early 20th Century homes that are actually quite unique. You’ll see some bright colored homes, which is something you’d never see in Old Enfield or Pemberton Heights. Some of East Austin’s historic homes have been remodeled, but the majority are ready for a new owner to give them a makeover. If you’re looking for a funkier historic home, East Cesar Chavez might be the neighborhood for you.
For more info and to search homes for sale, visit our East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Guide.
East Cesar Chavez Historic Homes for Sale
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Historic Homes for Sale in Austin
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Looking to Buy an Historic Home in One of the Best Historic Neighborhoods in Austin?
Our team of buyer’s agents with a combined 58+ years of experience can help! We know the Austin real estate market and how to negotiate the best deal for you. Historic homes involve a more detailed level of investigation, in terms of the rules you’ll have to follow to maintain the property and the condition it is in. Choose a buyer’s agent who knows the questions to ask to get you the info you need. For more info about our team of experienced buyer’s agents, check out our Austin Home Buyers page. Then, call us at (512) 827-8323, email us at info@11OaksRealty.com or fill out our Austin Buyer Survey to get started.
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