Second Ward, Houston, Texas

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 [http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/suprnbhds/landuse/sn63lu.html] .

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 [http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13745477&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=532207&rfi=8] . 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 [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/tx18_109.gif] . 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 [http://www.archgh.org/SchoolPages/schoolpages-new/ourladyofguadalupe-houston.htm] .

The Second Ward is served by the Houston Public Library Flores Branch [http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/branches/flo_home.html] .

The Houston Police Department's South Central Patrol Division [http://www.houstontx.gov/police/cs/beatpages/southcentral.htm] serves the neighborhood.