First Ward, Houston, Texas

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 [http://www.houstonhistory.com/decades/history5a.htm] .

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 [http://es.houstonisd.org/crockettes Crockett Elementary School] , [http://ms.houstonisd.org/hoggms 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." [http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0afe09c28afc3110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=2e2b2f796138c010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD School Histories: the Stories Behind the Names] ." "Houston Independent School District".]