Living in Galveston - Housing, Neighborhoods - Resources from the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce

Galveston's History From Victorian to the Beachfront

Galveston Island’s housing scene is a delightful fusion of styles from throughout the ages. From stately mansions to charming cottages to the conversions of downtown buildings into residential lofts, Galveston’s older neighborhoods have options to fit any budget. West End neighborhoods offer modern homes and raised houses that overlook the beach or bay. For the more traditional homebuyer, ranch-style homes built from the 1950s to 1980s can be found in neighborhoods throughout much of the Island.

Renters also have a variety of housing styles from which to choose. Many houses are available for rent, as well as more contemporary apartment complexes and quaint loft apartments in the upper floors of downtown Victorian buildings.

Galveston Neighborhoods. Here’s a sampling of some of the more distinctive neighborhoods and condominiums in Galveston.

Beachtown. Beachtown is among the beach-front communities on the east end of Galveston Island, designed with a town center complete with dining and shopping.
Cedar Lawn. Cedar Lawn in central Galveston features quiet tree-lined streets and the home built by the late Galveston club and casino operator Sam Maceo. The house has more than 6,000 square feet of living space, including anywhere between eight and 11 bedrooms and nine full bathrooms.
Denver Court. Denver Court Historic District is located a few blocks north of the seawall and encompasses more than 30 blocks. You’ll see samples of late nineteenth and twentieth-century Revivals, Spanish and French Eclectic, Italian Renaissance, French Eclectic, Colonial Revival, Monterrey Tutor Revival, and Neo-Classical, as well as late nineteenth and early twentieth-century American Movements, Craftsman and Prairie School. It’s a diverse neighborhood, ranging from speculator-built cottages to large architect designed mansions.
East End Historical District. East End Historical District includes more than 50 city blocks bounded on the south by Broadway, the east by 10th Street, the north by Mechanic Avenue and the west by 19th Street. Designated a National Historic Landmark, the architecture features a variety of styles and periods, including Greek Revival style homes built in the 1850s. Structures range from small simple cottages to elaborate, large homes.
Evia. The Evia planned community includes three freshwater lakes and a nature preserve, as well as a community coffee shop, located across from the Moody Gardens Golf Course on 99th Street.
Fish Village. Fish Village features homes dating back to the 1960s, remodeled with hardwood floors and large backyards on quiet streets close to the University of Texas Medical Branch. All the streets are named for marine life.
Lindale Park. Lindale Park is part of the University Area Association and within walking/biking distance to UTMB and the beaches. Mature trees line the streets and the nearby playground, ballpark, greenbelt area and dog park.
Lost Bayou. Lost Bayou Historic Neighborhood District takes its name from Hitchcock’s Bayou, a bayou that was “lost” when the Island was raised after the 1900 Storm. A subset of the larger San Jacinto neighborhood, the Lost Bayou Historic District was created in 1994 and bounded by 16th and 21st streets on the east and west, and avenues K and M½ on the north and south. There you’ll find Greek Revival, Italianate, Arts & Crafts and Folk Victorian architecture preserved from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Silk Stocking Historic District. The Silk Stocking Historic District was formed in 1975, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. You’ll find some of Galveston’s best examples of the Queen Anne style in this neighborhood. Bounded by 25th Street (west), 23rd Street (east), Avenue P (south), and Avenue K (north), the name of the district refers to the prosperous families who lived there.
West End Neighborhoods. Located on the West End of Galveston, these communities offer a getaway from the busy city life.
- Campeche Cove
- Pirates Beach
- Pirates Cove
- Jamaica Beach, incorporated
- Spanish Grant
- Sands of Kahala
- Sea Isle
- Sunset Cove