Van Alstyne Homes for Sale
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Location
Located south of Sherman and north of McKinney, Van Alstyne is not far from the state line between Texas and Oklahoma. McKinney and Anna are to the south, and Sherman is to the north of Van Alstyne, all inside Grayson County. Van Alstyne was a sleepy small town ready to be awoken and it has been now with large home builders and outstanding educational system waiting for you to arrive. On US 75, you may reach McKinney in roughly half an hour.
If you plan to work in the North East side of Dallas, I recommend that you consider Van Alstyne as it offers so much great things to enjoy and a place to safely raise your kids or set down roots for retirement. Van Alstyne is just the right size for a family who enjoys a warm friendly Texas city. It doesn’t wear you out with multi-story chrome buildings that emit a hurry up feeling. In addition to Van Alstyne, you can search for homes in some of the neighboring communities. McKinney is located 25 miles south of Van Alstyne and an option for finding similar homes. Another option is in Anna, which is located 15 minutes south of Van Alstyne.
History of Van Alstyne
The city of Van Alstyne, located on the southern border of Grayson County, was founded in 1873 when the railroads began their rapid expansion and formation of new settlements into the rich blacklands of North Texas. The railroads bypassed the little town of Mantua that had been settled in 1854 three miles to the Southwest. Most of Mantua’s citizens relocated to Van Alstyne, bringing with them their businesses and churches.
Van Alstyne was named in honor of Maria Van Alstyne, widow of William Ashley Van Alstyne of Houston, a major stockholder of the Houston and Texas Central Railway.
Collin McKinney, was a member of the drafting committee and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. McKinney, for whom Collin County and it’s county seat is named, migrated to the Van Alstyne area in 1845 and was laid to rest in the Van Alstyne Cemetery at the age of 95.
Today, residents and tourists enjoy shopping, dining and working in offices in our vibrant historic downtown district. Those living in a restored home or loft apartment downtown can walk to banking, grocery shopping, restaurants, medical care and entertainment.
Our historic downtown is also the location of events such as the Fall der All festival, Halloween trick-or-treating at downtown merchants, the Railcar Farmer’s Market, concerts in the park, the Christmas parade and much more.
One of the most significant historical homes in Van Alstyne is the Umpress – Taylor home. The Umpress – Taylor home sits prominently on a large, corner lot in the North Texas town of Van Alstyne. The Umphress—Taylor House is a substantial and largely intact example of a turn-of-the-century residence in a transitional Queen Anne/Colonial Revival architectural vocabulary. It was constructed for locally prominent citizen James Causby Umphress (1841-1917) and his wife, Julia Caroline Veasey (d. 1932), and remained in their family until 1974.
Here is a significant history of one of the most prominent homes in Van Alstyne.
James C. Umphress was born in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, in 1841. He served in the Confederate Army in the Civil War and, in 1866 married Julia Caroline Veasey. The Umphress moved to Texas in 1870 and to the fledgling town of Van Alstyne in the northern part of the state in 1890. Umphress became prominent in the area as a landowner, banker, agriculturalist, and community leader. He was also an active Mason and member of the Methodist Church, as well as the father of nine children.
In 1903, when Van Alstyne’s future seemed brightest, James and Julia Umphress began construction of a residence destined to become one of the most substantial in the town. Their architect—builder was Scotland—born John Tulloch (1860–1947), who designed a number of notable homes, churches, and public buildings in Grayson County, including the Sherman Public Library and the Munson House in Denison.
Stylistically, the Umphress House borrows from several traditions. The massing of the house, as well as the telescoping octagonal tower and ornamental shingles, suggest Queen Anne—Eastlake influence, while the dormer window with rounded corners and the gable ends with inset rounded sections (on all facades) demonstrate some exposure to the Shingle Style. The wrap-around porch and balconies supported by Doric columns are typical of early Colonial Revival residences. The structure is not unlike large pattern—book homes of the period—but has considerable visual prominence and presence in the Van Alstyne context which added to its significance. Of added interest is the fact that John Taylor of Van Alstyne was so taken with the design of the house that he borrowed its plans and duplicated the homes. Shortly after its completion, the home and the architectural plans were destroyed in a major fire around 1920. Taylor’s son Spencer (d. 1943) married Umphress daughter (Sallie) Maude, and the couple made their home in the Umphress House for many years.
James Umphress died in 1917, and his widow in 1932. Maude Umphress Taylor continued to reside in the house until 1974, and she died three years later at age 91. The structure became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981, and was recently acquired by George and Diana Kerns of North Dallas, who was employed as an engineer in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
If you are interested in Van Alstyne, please call me, as I know the city well. Bob Smith 214.263.0816
Lifestyle of Van Alstyne Homes for Sale
The great little town of Van Alstyne, while close to the throb of the large cities of Dallas and almost sister cities on McKinney Sherman and Celina has a more country, laid-back mood that we find in most smaller cities in Texas.
I would describe the lifestyle of Van Alstyne as a town that has a special atmosphere and a strong sense of community. You will find the residents friendly and helpful, and a newcomer will quickly feel at home among them. Folks are proud to say “I’m from Van Alstyne!”
On the eastern side of State Highway 75, which passes through Van Alstyne, the terrain offers a rolling, treed landscape, populated by big cottonwood trees, Oaks, and Pecans, and you soon find yourself surrounded by open fields as you drive through.
The city has its own education district called the Van Alstyne Independent Schools System, and citizens often volunteer at their neighborhood schools supporting various school functions. I‘ll talk about the school system in more detail in this blog.
Annual events in the area include the “Little Big Town 5K and Fun Run,” held in the spring, and the “Railcar Farmers Market,” held in the summer, as well as “Music in the Park,” the “Denim and Diamonds” gala, the “Sporting Clay Classic” shoot, the “Fall Festival” held in October, the “Car Shows,” and the “Christmas Tour of Homes,” held in December. There’s a ton to like here. Many of your neighbors will most likely be there.
The School System
Located between McKinney and Sherman along Interstate 75, the Van Alstyne Independent School District educates the children of a rapidly expanding suburb. Over 2,400 students in grades K-12 are enrolled in the rapidly expanding Van Alstyne Independent School District. Currently, students attend Partin or Sanford elementary (K-5), Van Alstyne Middle School (6-8), and Van Alstyne High academic (9-12), and the District plans on establishing a new high school facility at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Van Alstyne ISD aspires to become a PREMIER district. We strive to make learning meaningful and relevant for our students and teachers so that they can be Prepared for the future. In addition, we seek for creative methods of teaching that will interest and inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities. We take pleasure in our ability to be Encouraging while establishing positive Relationships.
Van Alstyne Independent School District (AISD) is a top-performing district in Texas, earning a “A” grade from the Texas Education Agency. Van Alstyne students routinely outperform the state average on standardized tests including the STAAR, SAT, and ACT. Students at Van Alstyne also perform exceptionally well in extracurricular activities such as music, sports, drama, technology, agriculture, the University Interscholastic League, the culinary arts, and robotics. Students can also join organizations that foster leadership and community service, such as PALS, Ready Set Teach, National Honor Society, and FCA.
Students at Van Alstyne High School have the option of taking either advanced placement (AP) or dual credit (DC) classes taught by college professors during the school day, with the latter allowing them to earn up to 32 college credits. Students can also earn credentials in welding, cosmetology, HVAC, and OSHA through Grayson County College’s collaboration with industry. The culinary kitchen at Van Alstyne High School also hosts a certification program for students seeking dual credit.
In addition to the high school, the Van Alstyne Homes for Sale School District has two elementary schools and one middle school.
Elementary school – John and Nelda Partin Elementary School (Formerly Van Alstyne Elementary School) and Bob and Lola Sanford Elementary School
Middle school – Van Alstyne Middle School
High School – Van Alstyne High School
Each of their campuses is staffed with a full time counselor and a full-time nurse to assist with our kids’ needs. Van Alstyne Independent School District also has a police force.
Recreation in the Van Alstyne Homes For Sale Area.
Parks
Central Social District – Van Alstyne’s newest park opened in May 2022 as a place for gathering, celebrating, relaxing, and simply enjoying the best of Van Alstyne. It is located downtown at 215 E. Van Alstyne Parkway, Van Alstyne, Texas 75495.
Dorothy Fielder Park – This downtown park along FM 121 at Main Street features a gazebo available to rent, fountain, and an urban green area with picnic tables.
North Park – A playground, pavilion, picnic area, and public restrooms are available at this park on the northern end of town off N. Waco Street/Highway 5.
Wilson McKinney Park – On Jefferson/FM 121 this park offers baseball/softball fields, a playground and a gazebo.
Forrest W. Moore Park – Located toward the southern end of the city on S. Waco Street/Highway 5, there are plenty of opportunities for exercise here with four baseball/softball fields, four lighted tennis courts available for use at no charge, sand volleyball, basketball court, walking trails, playground, and picnic areas. Leading to the concession & restrooms building is a historic iron truss bridge dating back to 1890.
Entertainment
The city, located in the Van Alstyne Homes for Sale area has a number of annual events like their annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 2, 2023.
Everyone is getting their floats, truck, trailers, kiddie cars, etc. all ready and decorated for this annual Christmas turnout. Everyone in Van Alstyne and surrounding cities will be there. The Police Chief and Mayor will lead off with the fire engines, floats and all kinds of fun things to see in the parade.
There will be three categories for awards:
1.) Best of the Best
2.) Best use of the theme (“Old Fashioned Christmas”)
3.) Best Holiday Spirit.
This is always a big time in anyone’s life as it recognizes the birth of Christ over 2000 years ago, the celebration of his birth, and the gift of life everlasting for those who came to him.
On the same day, Saturday, come and join the City as we celebrate the beauty of the holiday season with our annual Christmas Tree lighting Ceremony at the Central Social District Park. Visitors can enjoy the live performances from the Van Alstyne High School Band and Choir. Bring the kids for a free visits and photos with Santa.
Homes
The Van Alstyne Homes for Sale area offers a mix of homes, from historical to large country homes on acreage. There is an amazing number of historical homes in the main part of the city, near Highway 5 that ring through the city. Review the write up on the historical James Umphress home in the paragraphs above.
The builders of the new homes in Van Alstyne dominate the mid range homes ($500,000 – $800,000) built by quality builders like Highland Homes, David Weekly building in Mantua Point, Risland Homes, Cambridge Homes, and Riverside Home Builders. These builders offer an space savings open floor plans.
Van Alstyne is growing for several reasons. the lot size of your home is larger meaning you get more for your money, and its easy access to North Dallas with US Highway 75 running through its center. The school systems is outstanding which most parents want for their children.
Use the button Home Search to search the entire Van Alstyne Homes for Sale area and you can use the home builder links to see their offering as well. Your best bet is to call me as I know the area and I can find you a new home or a historical home, Bob Smith 2142630816.