Introduction to Williams-Borden
Williams-Borden is located approximately where the yellow dot has been placed on the aerial view of Galveston. The boundaries of this midtown neighborhood are between 35th and 39th Streets east to west and from M Street on the north to S Street on the south, ending just two blocks from the beach.
The Galveston City Company, (original town plan by John D. Groesbeck of Albany, NY), was laid out in a grid with numbered streets running north and south starting at the east end and lettered streets starting at the harbor and running east and west. Half (1/2) streets were also added to avoid running out of letters as the island became wider moving west. These full avenues are half streets in name only as they run between and parallel to the lettered streets. Alleys run behind most houses, dividing the blocks again.
The area where Williams-Borden is today was "far" from the business district near the wharves and so outlots were platted here. Each ten-acre outlot would have been the equivalent of four city blocks and these outlots were settled as farms, plantations and large estates. Over time, outlots were subdivided and more homes were built.
The Williams-Borden boundaries and neighborhood association were established by residents in 2015 with the objective of creating a smaller neighborhood within the larger midtown area. Williams-Borden takes its name from Samuel May Williams (1795-1858) and Thomas H Borden (1804-1877). Williams' home, pictured here, is considered one of the oldest houses still existing in Galveston. Williams is well known for his business associations in Galveston. Borden ran a dairy and a gristmill here. The home that he built when he returned to Galveston late in his life still stands.
Williams-Borden is a residential neighborhood. There is a public elementary school. Several independent businesses are located (mostly) along the numbered streets. Galveston College and Ball High School are located adjacent to Williams-Borden. Residents span income and age groups. Some are BOI - born on the island - and others have discovered Galveston more recently. The diverse nature of Williams-Borden lends to its character. Spanish is spoken by many locals. The socioeconomic and cultural diversity of the neighborhood mirrors that of the city as a whole.