Welcome to Downtown Palestine, Texas.

Palestine is a proud Texas Main Street city with a remarkable collection of historic buildings that tell the story of its growth and resilience. Founded in 1846 as the county seat of Anderson County, Palestine flourished after two railroads were built through the city in 1872, connecting it to Austin and Houston. These rail lines transformed Palestine into a key commercial hub in East Texas. Businesses dependent on the railroad fueled a thriving local economy, shifting the heart of activity from the original courthouse square, known as Old Town, to the bustling New Town commercial district along the tracks. The discovery of oil in 1925 brought additional prosperity that continued well into the 1950s.

To preserve this rich heritage, the Downtown Historic District was established in 1992, encompassing the New Town commercial area. The Palestine Main Street Program works closely with property owners to encourage reinvestment, promote economic vitality, and guide preservation efforts within this historic district—the long-standing center of commerce and community life in Palestine. As a local historic district, exterior alterations require design review to maintain the area’s architectural integrity. In addition to locally designated landmarks, the Palestine New Town Commercial Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021, joining several individually listed properties.

The City of Palestine offers tax relief incentives for property owners investing in downtown, and the Palestine Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) provides additional programs for qualifying businesses. Downtown’s distinctive architecture includes narrow street alignments along Oak and Main Streets that create an abundance of double-frontage buildings—an uncommon and desirable feature offering two prime façades in one property.

Investment opportunities and historic resource information are updated regularly and publicly available.

For more information about investing in or preserving downtown Palestine, contact Corby Neal with the Palestine Main Street Program.