First Ward, Houston facts for kids
The First Ward is a historic neighborhood in Houston, Texas. It's located inside the 610 Loop highway. This area was one of the first four "wards" (which are like districts or neighborhoods) created in Houston back in 1840. It was a very important business center because it was located near where the Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou rivers meet, a spot now known as Allen's Landing.
In 1866, some land from the First Ward was used to create part of the Fifth Ward. Later, before the ward system ended in 1915, the Woodland Heights neighborhood was built in the northwest part of the First Ward. Over the years, the First Ward has changed a lot. Many of its original buildings were replaced by modern offices in downtown. In 2006, the last remaining old houses in one area were replaced by a large shopping center called Sawyer Heights Village, which includes a Target store. However, some older homes, like bungalows and cottages, were saved and became the High First Ward Historic District in 2014. Many new homes, like lofts and townhomes, have also been built in the area.
What is the Economy Like in the First Ward?
For a long time, the First Ward's economy was mainly focused on industries. Companies like Matheson and Tejas Materials, which provide industrial services, still employ many people there. However, today the First Ward is mostly known as a lively arts district. You can find many art studios and creative spaces here, such as Spring Street Studios, Winter Street Studios, and Sawyer Yards. Sawyer Yards was once a Mahatma Rice factory but was turned into an arts complex in 2015. The Sawyer Heights Village shopping center also provides many stores and services for the community.
What Schools are in the First Ward?
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The First Ward is part of the Houston Independent School District. Most of the First Ward is zoned to specific public schools:
- Crockett Elementary School
- Hogg Middle School
- Reagan High School
An older school called Hawthorne Elementary used to serve the First Ward. It opened in 1893 and closed in 1959. Later, Richard Brock Elementary School opened on the same site in 1967. In 2006, this school became the Crockett Early Childhood Center, and Crockett Elementary took over the attendance area that Brock used to serve.
The University of Houston–Downtown (UHD) is also located in the historic First Ward. It's a four-year state university that started in 1974. UHD is one of four different universities that are part of the University of Houston System. It has about 12,900 students, making it one of the largest public universities in Texas and the second-largest in the Houston area.
What About Religion in the First Ward?
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston oversees St. Joseph-St. Stephen Church, which is located nearby in the 6th Ward.
There was also a church called St. Stephen Church in the First Ward, which had many Mexican immigrants in its congregation. This church was in an area that was changing a lot, with new developments being built. St. Stephen Church closed in 2016 and was combined with St. Joseph Church. In 2018 and 2019, some people protested, asking for the church to be reopened. The leaders of the Catholic church eventually ordered the church to reopen, but as of 2019, it had not yet done so.
