The six wards of Houston

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When the city of Houston was founded in 1836 and incorporated in 1837, its founders—John Kirby Allen and Augustus Chapman Allen—divided it into political geographic districts called "wards." The ward system, a precursor to today's City Council districts, was a common political tool of the early 19th century, and is still used in some American cities, including Chicago.

In 1839, Houston's civic leaders divided the city into four wards. The Fifth Ward was added in 1866 to accommodate the city's growth, and by the Sixth Ward in the following decade. The idea was not to have an equal number of residents in each but rather, to draw lines were along natural boundaries: Buffalo Bayou, Main Street, and Congress Street.

Today, the wards are a civic phenomenon, loosely defined by geography and with no direct bearing on city government.

1 First Ward
2 Second Ward
3 Third Ward
4 Fourth Ward
5 Fifth Ward
6 Sixth Ward
- 6.1 Old Sixth Ward
- 6.2 Architecture styles
7 References
8 External links

[edit] First Ward

Allen's Landing park at Buffalo Bayou and White Oak in the First Ward.

The First Ward, which is located inside the 610 Loop, is one of the city's historic wards. It was originally the center of the business district for the city, and was strategically located at the intersection of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou, near an area known as Allen's Landing. It was one of the original four wards in Houston when it was created in 1840. It was defined as all area within the city limits of Houston (which was much smaller at the time) north of Congress Street and west of Main Street[1].

In later years, all land in the First Ward to the north and east of White Oak Bayou and Little White Oak Bayou was split off to create part of the Fifth Ward. Today, the area is part of the Historic District along Buffalo Bayou, with many of the oldest buildings in Houston. The University of Houston–Downtown is also located in this area.

The First Ward is within the Houston Independent School District; the part of the First Ward not within Downtown is zoned to Crockett Elementary School, Hogg Middle School, and Reagan High School.

Hawthorne Elementary School used to serve the First Ward; it opened in 1893, replacing Houston Avenue School (which was later known as the First Ward School), and closed in 1959.^[1]

[edit] Second Ward

The Second Ward (is often considered to be a part of the East End) is a historical political district ward in Houston, Texas. It was one of the four original wards of the city in the nineteenth century. The community known as the Second Ward today is roughly bounded by Buffalo Bayou to the north, Lockwood Avenue to the east, and railroad tracks to the south and west, although the City of Houston's "Super Neighborhood" program includes a section east of Lockwood [2].

The Second Ward today has mainly Hispanic residents, primarily Mexican Americans who moved into the area following World War II and the subsequent white flight from the area. One of Houston's first master-planned communities, Eastwood, where Howard Hughes lived as a child, is located in this ward[3]. The northern end of the community is largely industrial, leading to massive warehouse complexes along the Bayou. There are also many industrial buildings, some of which have found new life as lofts, on the western edge of the neighborhood nearest to Downtown and Minute Maid Park.

Many buildings in the community, including the local high school, Stephen F. Austin High School, were constructed in the 1920s and bear the art deco style. While perceived as rundown and neglected in the 1970s and 1980s, recent years have seen major civic improvements including new street lights and pavement, as well as the beginnings of gentrification as professionals and others move from both the far-flung suburbs and other, more expensive Inner Loop neighborhoods. The area attracts artistic talent through venues such as Talento Bilingüe de Houston, and residents of all ages frequent the Ripley House Community Center.

The Second Ward is in the early stages of revitalization, drawing new residents with its proximity to downtown.

The Second Ward is in Texas's 18th congressional district [4]. Its current Representative is Sheila Jackson Lee.

Area students attend schools in the Houston Independent School District, including Jackson Middle School and Austin High School.

The Our Lady of Guadalupe School, a Kindergarten through 8 Roman Catholic school that is a part of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, is in the Second Ward area [5].

The Second Ward is served by the Houston Public Library Flores Branch [6].

The Houston Police Department's South Central Patrol Division [7] serves the neighborhood.

[edit] Third Ward

Main article: Third Ward, Houston, Texas

[edit] Fourth Ward

Main article: Fourth Ward, Houston, Texas

[edit] Fifth Ward

Main article: Fifth Ward, Houston, Texas

[edit] Sixth Ward

Reagan High School, located in the Houston Heights, serves the Old Sixth Ward

The Sixth Ward was created out of part of the northern Fourth Ward in 1876, and is the only ward that does not extend into downtown Houston's historical center, although a fraction of the ward is considered to be within the boundaries of downtown.

The Sixth Ward is in Texas's 18th congressional district.[8] Its current U.S. Representative is Sheila Jackson Lee.

The Sixth Ward is zoned to Houston ISD schools, which include Crockett Elementary School, Hogg Middle School, and Reagan High School. The Houston Police Department's Central Patrol Division [9] serves the neighborhood, and the Houston Fire Department operates Station 6 Sixth Ward.

[edit] Old Sixth Ward

The Sixth Ward is home to the oldest intact neighborhood in Houston, known as the "Old Sixth Ward." Apart from Galveston, the Old Sixth Ward has the greatest concentration of Victorian homes in the region.

Old Sixth Ward lies on the western edge of downtown Houston, bounded by Memorial Drive to the south, Glenwood Cemetery to the west, Washington Avenue to the north, and Houston Avenue to the east.

Old Sixth Ward is recognized for its historic homes. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, making it the first neighborhood in Houston to be placed on the Register. The Houston City Council followed suit on June 25, 1998, designating Old Sixth Ward a Historic District.

Although Old Sixth Ward contains many homes from the late 1800s, Houston's lax preservation laws [10], allowing demolition of most historic properties after a 90-day wait, may eventually eliminate this historic area. Many homes considered teardowns have been restored [11]. The Old Sixth Ward Neighborhood Association is working to save the historic housing stock for generations of Houstonians to come.

The Houston Press dubbed the Old Sixth Ward the 2006 "Best Hidden Neighborhood" [12].

[edit] Architecture styles

Old Sixth Ward housing stock evidences five main architectural styles:

Gulf Coast Colonial/Greek Revival Style (1850-1890). These houses are usually five bay cottages with a full-length front porch tucked in under the main roof line. This style of house is predominantly found in southern Louisiana and coastal Texas. The style represents an adaptation of Greek Revival architecture popular in the northeast to the gulf coast climate.

Folk Victorian Style (1870-1910). These houses represent a vernacular attempt to adapt Victorian style architecture to the gulf coast climate. The houses featured locally made porch posts and gingerbread. In many cases the Folk Victorian house is actually a Gulf Coast Colonial cottage draped or altered with later Victorian elements.

Queen Anne Style (1880-1910). These houses are noted for their prominent gables, variety of shingle treatments, ornate factory-made millwork, abundance of stained-glass windows, and tall roof lines. These houses reflect a national trend in architecture that took the country by storm at the end of the 19th century.

Classical Revival Style (1895-1920). These houses are characterized by simple Greek columns, restrained exterior ornament, and wide roof overhangs. The period during which they were built is marked by the decline of Victorian extravagance and a new interest in the antiquities of Greece and Rome.

Bungalow Style (1900-1940). These houses reflect a new utilitarian trend in architecture. Bungalows are noted for their prominent porches, their lack of foyers, and their perfectly proportioned rooms.