Living in the City of Bellaire offers the perfect combination of small town atmosphere and big city amenities. Bellaire is known as the "City of Homes" as the city is almost exclusively residential, although there are a few offices within the city limits. The citizens of Bellaire take an active interest in what is happening in their community. Bellaire is attractive to upper middleclass families due to its great schools, sports programs for kids, close proximity to sports and cultural events, and numerous parks. Bellaire’s Little League baseball has competed in the World Series and the high school baseball team is championship quality, as well. The estimated population of Bellaire in 2004 was almost 17,000 people.
Bellaire High School consistently graduates one of the highest number of National Merit Finalists in the country. Bellaire High School is a flagship school of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) and an HISD magnet school for foreign languages and the International Baccalaureate Program. Excellent private schools in Bellaire include the Episcopal High School, Saint Agnes Academy, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, and St. Thomas Episcopal School.
Location
Bellaire, Texas, located on both sides of Interstate Loop 610 West, is surrounded by Houston and many subdivisions including West University Place, Southside Place, Meyerland, Willow Meadows, and Afton Oaks. It's a very short distance to the Galleria, Reliant Stadium, downtown Houston, the Theater District, and the Medical Center.
Geography
The city has a total area of 3.6 square miles and sits at an elevation of 57 feet above sea level. Houston area climate is classified as being humid subtropical. Houston and the surrounding area was built on forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairies.
Jobs
Bellaire residents live a high quality of life and are highly educated. The median income for a household in the Bellaire is $89,775, and the median income for a family is $104,200. Industries providing employment include educational, health and social services (29.3%), professional, scientific, management, administrative (17.8%).
Houston and the surrounding area is one of the most desirable places for professionals wishing to relocate. International trade, The Port of Houston, Houston’s energy industry, aeronautics, and medical industries are also top-notch. In addition, The Texas Medical Center is one of largest employers of Bellaire residents. Houston is home to a network of more than 100 hospitals and medical facilities that provide state-of-the-art health care and employment opportunities for health professionals.
Housing
Bellaire is a beautiful community that has many ranch style homes that were built in the 1950’s and 1960’s and now are being renovated or replaced. Georgian brick and Mediterranean stucco mansions are popular choices of architecture for the homes in Bellaire. The streets are lined with beautiful mature trees that make this neighborhood very attractive and real estate valuable. Bellaire is a family-oriented community with great schools and numerous parks. Bellaire appeals to residents who want excellent schools, a safe residential area, and access to downtown amenities.
Bellaire is definitely a high-end area with homes starting at approximately $200,000 and reaching as high as $3 million dollars for exceptional luxury estates. New construction in Bellaire is going strong with home prices starting at approximately $450,000. The median house price in Bellaire for 2005 was $519,494.
Recreation
Bellaire is knows for its lovely neighborhood parks. Residents value the many parks in the city limits and have lots of recreational activities to choose from at the large Bellaire Community Center.
Bellaire Park encompasses 7.5 acres and has a neighborhood pool, picnic areas, a playground, tennis courts, a gazebo, jogging trail, and a ball field. The Civic Center and Recreation Center are located here as well.
Evergreen Park has a pool, playground and picnic area. Field Park is 4.7 acres with a softball field, playground, tennis courts and the Feld Scout House. Joe Gaither Park is a small park with a playground and green space. Horn Field is 3.1 acres and has baseball, T-Ball and soccer fields. Lafayette Park has a playground and picnic area and Locust Park is a small park with a play area and picnic spots.
Bellaire’s Russ Pitman Park is home to the Nature Discovery Center. The Nature Discovery Center offers a variety of live animals, specimens, eco-areas, and exhibits for children of all ages (as well as adults) to learn about nature. It’s also a great location for birding and observing wildlife.
Houston has 6 dog parks including one in Bellaire called the "Officer Lucy Dog Park". It was named in honor of Officer Lucy, Bellaire's K-9 detective who passed away of natural causes.
The Houston area provides some of the best golfing weather in the US. Houston has 2 city-run courses including Memorial Park Golf Course, which is rated one of the best municipal golf courses in Texas. In the Museum District, Hermann Park Golf Course is one of the city's oldest municipal courses with exception amenities. In addition, there are almost 200 golf courses in the Houston metro area, and over 100 of them are public courses.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Bellaire is the one of the wealthiest locations in Texas by per capita income.
Bellaire hosts a City Wide Garage Sale in April every year and 2 annual Arts and Craft shows. These events are popular and draw many to the area.
With five markers from the Texas Historical Society, history is a prominent part of Bellaire. Historical markers include one commemorating the original trolley line. The streetcar line, often called the "Toonerville Trolley," became an integral link between Bellaire and Houston and played a vital role in the development of this area.
Bellaire was founded in 1908 by William Wright Baldwin. William Wright Baldwin, acting as president of the South End Land Company, founded Bellaire and Westmoreland Farms after purchasing the 9,449-acre Rice Ranch in 1908. Baldwin was a native of Iowa and vice president of the Burlington Railroad. The development was six miles from Houston on the eastern edge of the Rice Ranch, named for owner William Marsh Rice.
Promotional advertising in 1909 explained that Bellaire was named for the area's Gulf breezes, but Baldwin may have named it for Bellaire, Ohio, a town served by his railroad.
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