South Belt/Ellington is a neighborhood located around 20 miles southeast of Downtown Houston, Texas. Before the Spaniards came to America the South Belt area was dominated by the Karankawa natives. Explorers that came into the area feared the Karankawas and viewed them as savages and cannibals. However, when settlers first began to settle in the areā¦South Belt/Ellington is a neighborhood located around 20 miles southeast of Downtown Houston, Texas. Before the Spaniards came to America the South Belt area was dominated by the Karankawa natives. Explorers that came into the area feared the Karankawas and viewed them as savages and cannibals. However, when settlers first began to settle in the area, they were greeted by somewhat neighborly natives.