A resurging population of neighbors in a historic small city
Palestine, the government seat of Anderson County, is a small railroad city known for its historic sites, natural scenery and engaged community. Although its population was declining between 2009 and 2019, it has since shot back up to 19,300 residents as buyers move there to find lower-priced homes than can be found in nearby cities. Moreover, the small city packs in a busy schedule of overlapping community events that ultimately highlights a shared desire for convivial activity. "I never felt like I didn't belong when I moved here," says Tammy Johnson, a Palestine local and founder of Palestine Trade Days. "We had been in Jacksonville for 16 years, and I grew up in Nacogdoches. So, moving and reestablishing myself in a new hometown, I kind of expected to run on the fringes of things, but I never felt that at all."
Palestine is in the process of a revitalization and a destination for art and culture.
Palestine is county seat of Anderson County in the Piney Wood Forest of East Texas.
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Fewer new builds than nearby cities, but with competitive prices
Even though the population has grown back, there isn't much new construction in Palestine – what little there is tends to be outside of the city and usually includes custom designed homes built on an empty land parcels that range in price from $10,000 to $75,000 per acre, with a few going over $100,000 per acre. New builds are more common in nearby cities like Nacogdoches. Palestine sees more rehabs of established homes, particularly ranchers and cottages in various styles. Consequently, the median price of a single-family home in Palestine is $225,000, which is below the median prices for both Jacksonville and Nacogdoches.
Outside of downtown Palestine, many of the homes are Ranch style homes.
One of the many homes in the historic Palestine district include Queen Ann.
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The Dogwood Festival, vendor markets and downtown sales occur all at once
Where many cities have a sporadic events calendar, Palestine's is constantly active with popular regional festivals and smaller local events. "There's all kinds of things depending on the time of year. There's the Dogwood Festival in March, there's the Hot Pepper Festival in October. And during the Saturdays on Main, there's always special sales or a special attraction or a photo opportunity," Johnson says. Some events even occur simultaneously, like on the first Saturday of every month, when a farmers market, Palestine Trade Days and Saturdays on Main all occur at the same time. "It's an easy walk. You can shop at all the stores in between, the farmers market is on one end, and then the Palestine Trade Days are on the other end," Johnson says. "We all just work together to make it appealing."
Multiple antique stores accent historic churches and theaters
Anchored by a historic railyard, downtown Palestine's small but dense collection of locally owned businesses coalesce into an active central area, even when events aren't going on. Bootmakers, taphouses and sandwich shops sit within rustic art deco and western false front buildings that cast shade over the narrow streets between. Meanwhile, antique hunters can't shake a stick without hitting a shop to sift through nicknacks and collectibles. Historic churches and theater houses line the downtown streets, adding to the nostalgia offered by fixtures like the Railroad Heritage Center and the Palestine Public Library, a Carnegie library. Downtown is also home to a centrally located Kroger supermarket, and additional retailers are found on major offshoot roads from downtown, like U.S. Highway 287.
Downtown Palestine has many boutique and antique shops to find various treasures.
Many business in historic buildings like Redlands Hotel, line the streets of Palestine.
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Loop highway helps commuters reach Interstate 45
The TX-256 Loop connects all of Palestine's highways with a beltway surrounding the city, offering easy, roundabout access to U.S. Highways 79, 287 and 84. But interstate highways are quite far away – It's a roughly 50-mile drive north to reach Interstate 20, and a 35-mile drive west to reach Interstate 45.
Some residents commute to surrounding cities while many others work locally at a variety of industrial employers, namely two Walmart Distribution Centers and Wayne Sanderson Farms. Palestine Independent School District and the Palestine Regional Medical Center are also major employers.
The Palestine Regional Medical Center is one area's biggest employers.
Many of Palestine's locals work at the nearby Walmart Distribution Center.
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Game hunting and other outdoor activities in Davey Crockett National Forest
The city maintains a combined total of 275 acres of parkland, comprising 12 facilities ranging from playgrounds to athletic complexes to indoor rec centers. The city is working on creating a parks master plan to help beautify outdoor spaces and bring in more activities and public programs. Several nature preserves also sit within driving distance of Palestine, including Big Bottom Lake Wildlife Management Area, a popular waterfowl and feral hog hunting preserve, and Davey Crockett National Forest, a 160,000-acre expanse of preserved Texas Piney Woods hiking trails, camping sites and equestrian trails.
Let the kids run and play on the playground at Reagan Park.
Many Palestine residents head out to Davy Crocket National Forest to reconnect with nature.
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Two school districts offer smaller than average class sizes
Most students in the city attend Palestine ISD, which has a Niche rating of A and is ranked the top district in Anderson County. The district has a 99 percent graduation rate, partly achieved by more individualized instruction stemming from smaller than average class sizes. Currently, the district oversees 3,200 students across five schools.
However, some students in select areas of the city are zoned for Westwood Independent School District, which is B-rated and oversees only 1,400 students across four school campuses.
Approximately 465 students attend Northside Elementary School.
Palestine High School earned a high A- grade from Niche.
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Declining crime rates in Tornado Alley
The city has a history of tornadoes, so most structures built in the last few years have storm shelters included. There is also a risk of riverine flooding along the creeks that surround Palestine, but most flood zones skirt residential areas.
FBI data shows positive crime trends for Palestine, which has a violent crime rate that is fairly proportionate with state and national figures. Property crime occurs at an even less frequent rate – Burglaries, larceny and motor vehicle thefts have all been trending down since 2020 and now sit below state and national figures.
Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Clayton Hurst
Video By
Logan Cox
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Hillside Retreat w/Lake Views & Over Half an Acre (.5255)! Ask agent about additional .7459 of an acre w/diff seller.Nestled on a scenic hilltop & tucked away in an established neighborhood, this unique 2,266 sq. ft. home offers privacy, character, and beautiful views of Spring Park Lake which is located directly across the street. Drive up the concrete driveway to the detached single car garage
.06560 of an acre with State Highway 79 frontage. Dense Mixed Woods atop a hill with frontage on ACR 3722 as well. Approx 1 mile from Loop 256 for convenience but yet still private enough for a homestead. This tract would be great for a Business Front as well. No restrictions! Buyer to verify water availably with Neches Water Supply.
Discover the potential of this stunning 50-acre property in Palestine! Featuring beautiful mature trees, a scenic pond, and endless opportunities, this acreage is ready for your vision to come to life. Whether you’re dreaming of a private homesite, recreational retreat, ranch, or future investment, this property offers the perfect blend of natural beauty and versatility. Conveniently located just
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The perfect country home property located on 19 acres close to the town of Palestine. Built in 2016, this home comes with many upgrades including copper gutters, granite countertops, scored stained concrete floors, custom light fixtures, and window treatments. Flat parcel with a 2 acre pond (approximate), 1600 sq ft 3 bd/2 bath home with an extra room for an office or 4th bedroom, and barn
Investor Opportunity in Palestine, TX! Bring your vision to 1201 Cummings St, a classic early-1900s single-family home offering approximately 1,216 sq. ft. of living space on an oversized 0.29-acre lot (approximately 12,480 sq. ft.). This property is a true renovation project and is ideal for investors, rehabbers, or buyers looking to create value through improvements. The home will require
Incredible location only 5-8 minutes from hospital and shopping. Located at the end of a county road, this barndo on 35 acres offers total privacy, is fenced and has a view of forever from the in-ground pool. There are spacious areas for family and entertaining around the pool and covered porch. A separate guest house provides additional accomodations or rental opportunity. The acreage has a pond
PRICE IMPROVEMENT!! Welcome to your own private paradise! This 4bed 2 bath pristine home sits on almost 8 beautiful acres just a few minutes drive from the city limits and boasts 3 living areas, 1 with a woodburning stove. Step into the sitting room and walk out your back door for a peaceful setting of woods and open fields, with raised bed gardens and a Fire Pit area. Wet weather creek, large
Escape to the peace and tranquility of this exceptional sixty plus acre tract near Palestine, where quiet surroundings, abundant wildlife, and mostly wooded acreage create the perfect country sanctuary. Nestled in the heart of the property is an inviting three-bedroom, two-bath home with high ceilings, large living area anchored by a cozy wood-burning fireplace, and spacious kitchen with ample
Incredible location only 5-8 minutes from hospital and shopping. Located at the end of a county road, this barndo on 35 acres offers total privacy, is fenced and has a view of forever from the in-ground pool. There are spacious areas for family and entertaining around the pool and covered porch. A separate guest house provides additional accomodations or rental opportunity. The acreage has a pond
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The serene community of Whispering Pines provides comfort and convenience in Palestine, TX. Take a short ride and hop on Highway 155 to check out the neighboring city of Tyler. Our location puts you close to several great attractions; from cozy sit-down restaurants to exciting Saturday night entertainment, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Dallas is also a quick trip away for a perfect
Property Id: 1190172 Come and check out our brand new 3 bedroom 2 bath homes at the Landing at Hickory Ridge. 1216 square feet and a large eat in kitchen peninsula. Good sized bedrooms and a utility room with washer and dryer hookup. 1.7 miles west of Loop 256 off of FM 320, so 5 minutes to shopping and dining. Energy star certified and large shaded lots will help you reduce electric
Property Id: 2070031 Welcome to this fully furnished 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home in a quiet Palestine, TX neighborhood. With 4 total beds (2 queens, 2 twins), this home is ideal for travel nurses, families, or professionals seeking a mid-term stay. Enjoy a spacious living room, Smart TV, fast WiFi, fully equipped kitchen, and in-unit laundry. The fenced backyard offers added privacy, and the
Property Id: 2531682 Welcome to your cozy 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment in Palestine, TX! This unit features a dishwasher, freezer, oven, refrigerator, and washer/dryer shared other units. Enjoy the convenience of laminate and carpet flooring, as well as a lawn for outdoor relaxation. Small dogs and cats are welcome, and smoking is allowed outside.
Private Rooms Available in Shared 5 Bedroom / 3 Bathroom Home – Palestine, TX5-bedroom, 3-bathroom, two-story shared home located in Palestine, TX, conveniently located near downtown and Reagan Park.This property offers comfortable private bedrooms with shared common areas, perfect for individuals looking for an affordable, clean, and well-maintained place to live.Second
Huge bonus room adds all the flex space possibilities to this updated 3 bedroom with storage shed on 1 acre in town and Westwood ISD!Covered parking/patio offers direct entrance into laundry room with washer/dryer hookups.Roomy farmhouse kitchen has plenty of storage featuring granite counter tops, dishwasher, and stainless gas rangeYou’ll find extra storage space in the newly
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