Midtown is bordered by Neartown (Montrose) to the west, the Museum District to the south, and Interstate 69 to the east.

[3] The formation of the Midtown Redevelopment Authority in the early 1990s and a renewed interest in Houston's urban core resulted in the gentrification of the district throughout the 2000s, fueled by an influx of young residents and the development of a vibrant nightlife.

Like many other gentrified areas of Houston, Midtown's street signs are themed, specific to the area's logo, and there are many parks, sculptures, and businesses that include “Midtown” in their name, as a form of economic unity and to further attract more visitors and residents.

The area became a group of small apartment complexes, low-rise commercial buildings, and older houses.

[7] By 1991 this Little Saigon had Vietnamese restaurants, hair salons, car shops, and travel agencies.

Mimi Swartz of Texas Monthly stated in 1991 that "Little Saigon is a place to begin easing into a new country".

[9] On June 24, 1994 Isabella Court at 3909-3917 South Main Street received listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

[10] The City of Houston established the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) in 1995.

[11] The establishment of the TIRZ led to the opening of upper income townhomes and apartment complexes in western Midtown and the area along Elizabeth Baldwin Park.

[11] By 2004, higher rents and street construction have reduced the number of Vietnamese American businesses, many of which have relocated to the outer Houston Chinatown in the Bellaire Boulevard corridor west of Sharpstown.

"[12] In 2009 Houston City Council approved the expansion of the Midtown TIRZ by 8 acres (3.2 ha).

[13] In 2014 the ranking website Niche stated that Midtown was the favorite neighborhood for millennial people.

[14] In 2010 Denny Lee of The New York Times said that Midtown, a "mixed-use" district, was "dotted with" bánh mì restaurants.

Nancy Sarnoff of the Houston Chronicle said in 2010 that the remaining flower shops told her that the establishment of the line helped cause several of their competitors to go out of business.

As of 2025, Midtown's largest accommodation provider is Lodgeur, operating 64 furnished apartments at Mid Main Lofts[19].

[23] Mimi Swartz of Texas Monthly stated in 1991 that in what is now Midtown, "Little Saigon is a place to begin easing into a new country.

"[22] Due to the actions of a group of Vietnamese-American leaders led by My Michael Cao, who served as the President of the Vietnamese Community of Houston and Vicinity (VNCH), a resolution that installed Vietnamese street signs along Milam Street in Midtown was passed.

[27] By 2003 the number of Vietnamese business declined, with many of them moving to the Southwest Houston Little Saigon,[21] despite the beautification projects occurring.

[28] Hope Roth stated c. 2017 that pressure from other new developments and increase in costs related to land and space caused a decline in Little Saigon.

Roth stated that many of the area restaurants still remain,[29] but increasingly cater more to mainstream American tastes.

[40] During previous eras the management district was headquartered in Suites 350–355 in the Bienville Building at 3401 Louisiana Street.

[51] The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Houston VII District Parole Office in Midtown.

Spec's Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods has its headquarters in Store #00 Downtown Location in Midtown.

[68] A small portion of the Midtown Management District south of U.S. Route 59 (which is in Super Neighborhood #66 Binz instead of Super Neighborhood #62 Midtown) is zoned to Cullen Middle School;[69] the portion contains one multi-family residence.

Beginning in 2018 Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan also serves as a boundary option for students zoned to MacGregor elementary school.

[72] An HISD magnet secondary school, Houston Academy for International Studies, is located in the HCCS Central campus.

The Young Women's College Preparatory Academy (formerly housing the Contemporary Learning Center), an alternative public school, is near Midtown.

Will Jones Elementary School,[35] located in Midtown, received an unacceptable academic rating from the Texas Education Agency.

John Nova Lomax, a journalist, published an article about the proposed park in the Houston Press.

[103] Syd Kearney of the Houston Chronicle stated that the opening of the Farrago World Cuisine Restaurant in 2000 "was one of the signs that once sleepy Midtown was coming to life.