Midtown was the second residential neighborhood founded in Houston and became a very popular place to live for employees of the Humble Oil and Refinery Company. At the turn of the century, the neighborhood was known as Southside Place and made up of mainly Victorian style homes built on lots between 4,000-6,000 square feet. The neighborhood grew rapidly and thrived through the 1940s, as home to many of the well-known Houston families such as Kirby, Weingarden, and Finger until the great migration of families to the suburbs during the 1950s. By the 1970s, the area had declined nearly to ruin. During the 1970s, a large number of Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans headed the revitalization of the Midtown area with what became known as Little Saigon. This effort turned Travis and Milam streets into what has been called a mirror image of the 1970’s ERA Saigon. Despite the efforts of the Vietnamese community, the neighborhood lost population and continued to decay during the oil bust of the 1980s that was economically devastating for the Houston area economy.

In 1995, the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone(TIRZ) was set up by the city of Houston. This rejuvenated the revitalization that the Vietnamese community started. Funds from the TIRZ were used to encourage the building of a number of townhome communities and high-income, luxury apartments on the west side abutting Montrose. In just a ten year span, the area’s population exploded growing from 3,070 people to 5,311, which is just under 73%. Today, Midtown is one of the most popular locations for those who seek an Urban lifestyle. The neighborhood mixes multiple residential options with restaurants and bars, making it one of Houston’s most walker friendly neighborhoods.