Nestled in North Austin, just east of bustling Lamar Boulevard and bordering the ever-changing Airport Boulevard, the Highland neighborhood has quietly witnessed over a century of Austin’s evolution. Its tree-lined residential blocks, historic institutions, and blend of old and new make Highland an inviting place with stories that span generations. For longtime residents and curious newcomers alike, exploring the roots of Highland reveals why this community is treasured for more than just its location — it’s prized for its character, resilience, and welcoming spirit.
The Origins of Highland: Farmland to Friendly Streets
Highland’s story begins long before urban growth filled in North Austin. In the late 1800s, this area was rural, dotted with farms, open pastures, and clusters of pecan trees. The city’s success as a railroad hub drew people outward from downtown, and the expansion northward in the early 20th century brought developers eager to create new neighborhoods.
The name “Highland” likely references the area’s gently higher elevation compared to downtown — a subtle but meaningful distinction in a city defined by hills and creeks. The “Highland Park” designation emerged around the 1940s as greater Austin’s residential boom set in, and it still surfaces on older maps and documents. The name stuck, symbolizing both a physical and aspirational sense of being above and removed from the urban fray.
Growth, Landmarks, and Community Anchors
By the 1950s and 60s, Highland had grown into a thriving middle-class neighborhood, shaped by the post-war building boom. Single-story ranch homes, many of which still stand along streets like Morrow Street, Guadalupe Street north of Koenig, and the curved blocks off Airport Boulevard, were constructed to meet the demands of new families. This period also saw the rise of Highland’s most prominent landmark: Highland Mall.
- Highland Mall: Opened in 1971 as Austin’s first indoor shopping mall, Highland Mall at 6001 Airport Blvd was a premier destination for decades. With anchors like Dillard’s, Foley’s, and JCPenney, it became both a commercial and social hub, drawing visitors from across the region. The mall’s mid-century modern architecture and iconic skylights were beloved features.
- ACC Highland: In 2014, the repurposing of the mall into Austin Community College’s Highland Campus marked a new era. The campus now serves as a vibrant educational center, with high-tech labs, the ACCelerator learning space, and art installations. What was once a retail mecca now inspires learning, bringing youthful energy and opportunity to the neighborhood.
- St. John Park and Recreation Center: Just across the borders of Highland on St. John Avenue, residents have long flocked to green spaces for recreation. Parks like the newly revitalized Highland Neighborhood Park on St. Johns Avenue offer walking trails, playgrounds, and picnic sites. These spaces knit the community together for block parties, outdoor movies, and neighborhood meetings.
Street Stories: Historic Avenues and Everyday Life
Much of Highland’s charm comes from its walkable blocks and quietly distinctive homes. On Morrow Street, mature pecan trees shade well-kept yards, and it’s not uncommon to see neighbors chatting over morning coffee or waving from porch swings.
- Koenig Lane: Once a farm road and now a busy east-west artery (also known as 2222), Koenig Lane forms Highland’s southern edge, marking the transition from the neighborhood’s calm streets to the vibrance of adjacent North Loop and Ridgetop.
- Clay Avenue, Chisum Trail, and St. John’s Avenue: These streets host a diversity of mid-century homes, duplexes, and the cluster of apartments that have housed generations of Austinites, from students to retirees.
- Airport Boulevard: The neighborhood’s eastern spine, Airport Boulevard, has transformed from a commuter corridor to a hotspot for innovative restaurants, food trucks, and coffee shops, all championing Highland’s Renaissance.
Milestones of Change: Diversity and Revitalization
Highland’s population has shifted dramatically since its founding days, reflecting Austin’s broader transformations. Originally majority white, the area saw increasing diversity through the late 20th century, as families from a range of backgrounds found affordable housing and good schools.
- In the 1980s and 90s, Highland became a landing place for immigrants and young professionals as property values remained reasonable.
- Local schools like Reilly Elementary on Caswell Avenue and Webb Middle School became focal points for community involvement.
- Recent years have brought new apartments, creative live-work spaces, and efforts to preserve affordability amid Austin’s rapid growth.
Important to Highland’s present and future is the spirit of its neighborhood associations — groups like the Highland Neighborhood Association and Friends of Highland Park. These groups organize annual festivals, tree plantings, and heritage walks that connect past to present, preserving the stories of longtime residents and welcoming newcomers.
Notable Institutions and Cultural Touchstones
Beyond Highland Mall’s reinvention, the area hosts several lesser-known gems:
- Austin Film Society: Just a stone’s throw north on Middle Fiskville Road, the AFS Cinema highlights Highland’s ties to Austin’s creative pulse, screening indie films and supporting local filmmakers.
- Historic Churches: Churches like the First Unitarian Universalist Church on Grover Avenue have played host to everything from Sunday services to civil rights gatherings.
What Makes Highland Special Today
Ask a Highland neighbor, and they’ll likely mention the area’s “in-betweenness” — Highland is neither fully urban nor suburban, neither the hippest nor the sleepiest part of town. It’s this balance that fosters belonging: families, students, and artists find well-kept mid-century houses beside modern apartments, parks filled with laughter, and the lingering spirit of Highland Mall reinvented as a space for all.
Walking the blocks off Morrow, sipping coffee on Airport Boulevard, or attending a lecture at ACC Highland, you feel the continuity of Austin’s story unfolding alongside your own. Highland’s legacy is not just its architecture or institutions, but its embrace of change and its celebration of community, making it a true Austin original.