West Line Historic District

Spread across about 90 blocks on a bluff west of Shoal Creek in central Austin, this district grew from the large estates of James H. Raymond, an early state treasurer, into a streetcar suburb. More than twenty-five subdivisions were platted between 1871 and 1948. The W. Sixth Street streetcar line, called the West Line, drew most of the growth, which peaked between 1910 and 1930 when affordable bungalows were built for middle and working-class families. Of 984 resources, 638 contribute to the district's character. Craftsman and Classical Revival-influenced bungalows dominate, but Queen Anne houses, stone L-plan homes, Tudor Revival houses, Moderne apartments and later Ranch houses also appear. Landmarks include the castellated 1870 Texas Military Institute building, the 1916 Mathews School and the Treaty Oak. Small shops along W. Sixth Street and West Lynn still serve the neighborhood. The district was recognized for its cohesive streetscapes and its record of a century of suburban development.