Houghton was developed as a residential area around the turn of the 20th century, primarily by Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company (JCI).

Historically a wealthy area, it contains many mansions on big stands, blocks of flats, as well as office parks (developed on the sites of former homes) on streets close to the M1 and on Louis Botha Avenue.

The house was designed by Swiss architect Theophile Schaerer for Rand pioneer and German Jewish migrant, Bernard Kaumhelmer, father of anthropologist, Ellen Hellmann.

The city sees many positive aspects to the redevelopment, but it is not uncontroversial and has resulted in the destruction of many traditional houses.

As with many suburbs in the North-East of Johannesburg,[21][22] Houghton has historically been known for being a Jewish area, and is home to Great Park Synagogue.

[23][24] There is also a Muslim community that has expanded in the northern suburbs since the repeal of the apartheid-era Group Areas Act.

A musallah was established in the east of the suburb, and, in 2011, a mosque, Masjid ul Furqaan was built by the Houghton Muslim Association on the site of the mussalah.

[25] Another, larger mosque on West Street, visible from the M1 freeway, was, after delays, completed in 2013 by the Houghton Muslim Jamaat.

[26][27][28] There are few shops in Houghton itself, apart from convenience stores in petrol stations, but the area is close to numerous commercial nodes in Johannesburg, including those in Oaklands, Norwood, Killarney, Rosebank and Sandton.

[30] A large sports club, the Old Edwardian Society (known as Old Eds), which includes a separate Virgin Active gym, is in Houghton.

[38][39] Louis Botha Avenue, in the east of the suburb, is an important minibus taxi route linking Hillbrow to Alexandra,[40] and, as of 2014, construction began on the expansion of Johannesburg's Rea Vaya bus rapid transit system to Louis Botha Avenue.