Saint John, Austin, Texas Explained

Saint John
Settlement Type:Neighborhood
Seal Type:Symbol
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Type2:City
Subdivision Name2:Austin
Subdivision Type3:Austin Neighborhood
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Title1:Leader
Leader Title2:Leader 1
Leader Title3:Leader 2
Leader Title4:Leader 3
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone1:CST
Utc Offset1:-6
Timezone1 Dst:CDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-5
Postal Code Type:ZIP Codes
Postal Code:78752
Area Codes:512, 737

Saint John (alternately Saint John's) is a neighborhood of Austin, Texas within the 78752 zip code. Geographically, the neighborhood straddles Interstate 35. It is bounded on the west by Middle Fiskville Road and Twincrest, on the south by U.S. 290, on the north by Anderson Lane, and on the east by Cameron Road.[1]

History

The neighborhood is named for the St. John's Industrial Institute and Home for Negro Orphans, which was built in 1906 and burned down in the 1940s.[2] The institute and orphanage was operated by the St. John Regular Missionary Baptist District Association, which was formed by a group of African-American ministers in Wheatville. The association also hosted an annual encampment on the site of the institute.[3] The land was eventually sold and developed into the Highland Mall. As part of the redevelopment of Highland Mall into a mixed-use Austin Community College campus, part of the land was redeveloped into an urban park called "St. John's Encampment Commons".[2]

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin have identified the Saint John and adjacent Coronado Hills neighborhood as vulnerable to gentrification as of the late 2010s.[4]

Education

Public primary and secondary education

Saint John is served by the Austin Independent School District. Students in the neighborhood are zoned for one of three elementary schools (Brown Elementary School, Pickle Elementary School, or Reilly Elementary School), Webb Middle School, and one of three high schools (Juan Navarro Early College High School, McCallum High School, or Northeast Early College High School).[5]

Recreation

St. John Park is located within the Saint John neighborhood, as is the Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center and the St. John Branch of Austin Public Library.[6] [7] [8]

References

30.33°N -97.698°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St. John/Coronado Hills Combined Neighborhood Planning Area . August 31, 2011.
  2. Web site: The Plan to Turn Highland Mall Into a Neighborhood . Pritchard, Caleb . Austin Monthly . July 19, 2017 . June 26, 2019.
  3. Web site: History of St. John . St. John Regular Baptist Association . June 26, 2019.
  4. Web site: St. Johns-Coronado Hills . The Uprooted Project . 20 January 2023.
  5. Web site: 2022-23 School Zone Finder . Austin ISD . 20 January 2023.
  6. Web site: St. John's Park . Nature Rocks Austin . 20 January 2023.
  7. Web site: Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center . AustinTexas.gov . 20 January 2023.
  8. Web site: St. John Branch . Austin Public Library . 20 January 2023.