淡水地區的開發，始於十七世紀。但要到了1640年代以後才真正有外來的漢人在此定居。其後，她受到好幾個政權的統治。在清朝統治時期末尾，她因爲成爲通商口岸而開繁榮，而由一個漁港與國內商港變成一個國際貿易的終點港。到了1895午，臺灣淪陷於日本人之手後，由於基隆港條件優異，逐取淡水而代之，淡水因而停止擴張。淡水的市街發展因爲上述的背景而所分成兩個階段。一是1860年以前所形成的東半部舊市區，一是這一年以後所形成的新市區。由於文獻的缺乏，搜羅匪易，因而在撰寫本文之時，書量添入有關的資料，以便重建歷史事實。希望這樣能有助於後來的研究者，作進一步深入的探討。

The development of Tansui area began from 17th century But only from 1640 onwards did Chinese people from the Mainland China settled down there Since then, she was governed under several regimes In 1860, she became a treaty port and began to flourish After 1895, under Japanese occupation f Taiwan, she was supersceded by Keelung as the terminal port of international trade and stopped expanding The formation of the downtown area was in accordance with this background Before 1860 formed the east part and after then the other part This development is shown in her architectures.