East End, Houston facts for kids
East End Houston is a cool area in eastern Houston, Texas. It's managed by the East End District (EED). This district stretches from the eastern edge of downtown all the way to the Port of Houston and south to Hobby Airport.
East End Houston is super important because it's where much of Houston's early history and industry began. It was even home to Harrisburg, which was the government seat for the Republic of Texas back in 1836!
Today, East End Houston is a vibrant mix of different cultures. You'll find many Hispanic, Asian, White, and African American people living here. More than half of the 100,512 residents are Latino. The area also includes two of Houston's oldest Hispanic neighborhoods: Magnolia Park and Second Ward.
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History of East End Houston
East End Houston is located between downtown Houston to the west and the Port of Houston to the east. The Buffalo Bayou river flows right past Harrisburg. Harrisburg was an early trading post and even served as the government center for the Republic of Texas in 1836. It was founded by John Harris, who also gave his name to Harris County.
This area became a popular place for people from Germany, Italy, and Mexico to settle, especially near the port. That's why neighborhoods like Second Ward and Magnolia Park are some of Houston's oldest Hispanic communities.
The Eastwood neighborhood was created in 1913. It was one of the first neighborhoods in Houston that was carefully planned out. Famous Houstonians, like the inventor Howard Hughes, even lived in Eastwood when they were kids!
In recent years, many people have moved to East End Houston to buy and fix up its beautiful old homes. It's a great place to find houses that are often more affordable than in other parts of Houston.
Other cool neighborhoods in the East End include Lawndale/Wayside, EaDo (East Downtown Houston), Broadmoor, Idylwood, Houston Country Club Estates, Forest Hill, Mason Park, and Pecan Park.
In 1997, a reporter from the Houston Chronicle noted that the East End had changed a lot. It went from being mostly white and wealthy to being mostly Hispanic and more modest. But new leaders were working hard to make the area even better, and they were succeeding!
The Greater East End management district was created in 1999. This happened after local leaders and community members asked for it to help improve the area.
Culture and Arts
East End Houston is a hub for arts and culture! The Talento Bilingue de Houston is here, and it's the biggest cultural arts center of its kind in Houston. You can also find the Carlos Garcia Theater at the Houston Community College-Southeast campus.
The district is home to some unique places like The Orange Show, a folk art environment. There's also the historic Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Mutalistan Hall, and a colorful Chicano mural by artist Leo Tanguma on Canal Street.
The Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA) opened a new $3.6 million education center in 1999. It has modern computer and science labs for students. The Ripley House-Neighborhood Centers also built a new, large community center to replace its old building.
Delicious Food!
East End Houston is known for its amazing food! In 1997, a food writer mentioned that even though the East End had great places like Ninfa's, Mandola's Deli, and Shanghai Reds, people often forgot about it when deciding where to eat.
To help with this, the East End Management Association published a dining guide. It listed 42 restaurants in the area, including in the Second Ward, the original Chinatown, and Magnolia Park. This guide helped more people discover the delicious food here.
In 2013, Houstonia magazine said that East End Houston has "some of the city’s best Mexican restaurants and bakeries." The very first Ninfa's restaurant, which became a super popular chain, opened right here in East End Houston in 1973.
What East End Houston Looks Like
In 2011, a reporter from the Houston Chronicle described parts of the East End as feeling like Mexico. He mentioned brightly painted homes, narrow streets, store signs in Spanish, and snow cones sold from carts.
In 2013, about a quarter of the land in the Greater East End was used for warehouses and industrial buildings. But by 2015, new townhouse developments started appearing, showing the area was growing and changing.
Communities in the East End
- Broadmoor
- Eastwood
- Idylwood
- Lawndale/Wayside
- Magnolia Park
- Pecan Park
- Second Ward
Economy and Businesses
By 1997, new stores and businesses were opening in East End Houston. A large former building was turned into the Central City Industrial Park, a huge complex where five Texas state agencies moved their offices, bringing 1,200 employees to the area.
KBR, a big engineering and construction company, used to have offices on Clinton Drive in the East End. This was once the main office for Brown & Root. However, KBR later moved its employees to downtown Houston.
When they existed, companies like Weingarten's (a grocery store chain), Oshman's Sporting Goods, and RioStar Corp. (the company that owned Ninfa's) all had their main offices in what is now East End Houston.
Education
East End Houston has many schools for students of all ages.
Public Schools
Most students in East End Houston attend schools in the Houston Independent School District (HISD).
Some of the high schools that serve the East End include:
- Austin High School (located right in East End Houston)
- Milby High School (also in East End Houston)
- Sterling High School
- Wheatley High School
Eastwood Academy is an HISD charter school in East End Houston. Charter schools are public schools that have more freedom in how they operate.
There are also other state charter schools like:
- KIPP Intrepid Preparatory School (for grades 5-8)
- YES Prep East End, which serves grades 6–12. It opened in 2006 and is now located within East End Houston.
- George I. Sanchez Charter School
Private Schools
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston operates Our Lady of Guadalupe School in the Second Ward, which serves students from kindergarten to 8th grade.
Colleges and Universities
For higher education, the Houston Community College System (HCCS) serves East End Houston. The HCCS Southeast College campus is located right in the East End.
Public Libraries
You can find three Houston Public Library branches in East End Houston: the Patricio Flores Neighborhood Library, the Melcher Neighborhood Library, and the Stanaker Neighborhood Library. These libraries offer books, computers, and programs for everyone.
Transportation
Getting around East End Houston is easy thanks to the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO). They operate public transportation services like buses and the METRORail tram service.
The METRORail Green Line has several stations in the East End, including:
- Coffee Plant/Second Ward
- Lockwood/Eastwood
- Altic/Howard Hughes
- Magnolia Park Transit Center
Many companies also offer international bus services from East End Houston to Mexico. These services are popular with people visiting family members. Greyhound Bus Lines and Autobuses Americanos have services at a bus station next to the Magnolia Park Transit Center.
Recreation
The YMCA Cossaboom Branch opened in the 1950s, providing a place for community activities.
Notable Residents
- Carol Alvarado, who has served as a Texas State Representative and a Houston City Council member.
- Ninfa Laurenzo, the famous restaurateur who founded Ninfa's restaurant.
