Texas Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Bellaire, Texas

Population: 15,642

Located in Harris County

Living in the City of Bellaire, Texas, a city within the city of Houston, offers the perfect combination of quiet, small town America, with the convenience of big city attractions. Originally one of Houston's first suburbs, Bellaire grew from a small farming community to a booming residential neighborhood, its growth spurred on by Houston's original trolley system. A trolley car from that era, gracing Paseo Park on the esplanade of Bellaire Boulevard, reminds residents of the historical roots of the city.

Residents value the many parks in the city limits, and engage in recreational activities in the large Bellaire Community Center.

Bellaire is famed for its Little League baseball team, which entered the World Series on one occasion. In addition, the city's sole public high school, Bellaire High School, is well-known for its academic and athletic programs. The Bellaire High School baseball team, Bellaire Cardinals, won the Texas High School Baseball championship seven times with several former or current Major League Baseball players.

Bellaire is home to five markers from the Texas Historical Society, including one commemorating the original trolley line. Teas Nursery, which landscaped the first streets in Bellaire, also has a historical marker that testifies to its 158 years of service to the area.

Approximately 16,000 people live in Bellaire, roughly the same number as those who work within the city limits. One of Houston's premier residential areas, the 6,000 homes in Bellaire are a mixture of 1950s and 1960s two- and three-bedroom ranch styles and brand-new Georgian brick and Mediterranean stucco mansions. The practice of "tear-downs" - replacing old frame and brick bungalows with new, larger construction - is common in Bellaire.

Bellaire is known as the "City of Homes" as the city is mostly residential; the city mainly functions as a bedroom community for upper-middle class families. There are a few offices along the 610 Loop within the city limits. As of 2000, Bellaire is the 27th wealthiest location in Texas by per capita income. The median house price in central Bellaire for 2006 was $519,494.

Bellaire is made up of enclaves. They include Bellaire Place, Bellaire Courts, Bellaire Oaks, Sylvania Courts, Southdale, Teas Gardens, Westmoreland Farms, Braeburn Hollow, Blume Acres, Tenbrook Plaza, Elmhurst, Hollywview, Post Oak Terrace, Carroll, Evergreen Plaza, Mulberry Manor, Turrentine, Pin Oak Estates, Cranford Place, Braeburn Gardens, Oak Terrace, West Post Oak, Cedar Oaks, Twin Oaks, Bellview, Peaceful Valley, Oakdale, Teasdale, Richmond Plaza, Aband Alley, Evergreen Court, Vaughn Estates, Loveland Terrace, Georgian Terrace, Spruce Lane Place, Beechmont, Heart of Bellaire, Normanor, Willow Lane Place, La Mont, Frank L. Holton, Braeburn Gardens, and Braeburn Country Club Estates.

Bellaire is well known for its schools. Bellaire High School, is a flagship of the Houston Independent School District (HISD). An HISD magnet school for foreign languages and the International Baccalaureate Program, Bellaire High School is well know for consistently producing the highest number of National Merit Finalists of any high school in HISD, in addition to regularly producing state champion baseball teams.

Photo Source: wikipedia.org