Harrisburg, Houston, Texas

Harrisburg (originally documented as Harrisburgh then shortened to Harrisburg in 1892) is located within the city of Houston, Texas, United States.

The community is located east of Downtown Houston, south of the Brays Bayou and Buffalo Bayou junction, and west of Brady's Island. It was founded before 1825 on the eastern stretches of the Buffalo Bayou in present-day Harris County, Texas, on land belonging to John Richardson Harris. In 1926, Harrisburg was annexed into the city of Houston. The original name of Harris County was Harrisburg (Harrisburgh) County until it was shortened after the demise of the City of Harrisburg.

John Nova Lomax of the "Houston Press" said that Harrisburg has "a purple, bright blue or yellow cantina on every corner, sometimes several" and that it "you just felt like you were in a border town" in a 2008 article. [Lomax, John Nova. " [http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2008/02/sole_of_houston_deep_harrisbur.php Sole of Houston: Deep Harrisburg: Lomax and Beebe Take on the East Side Again] ." "Houston Press". February 26, 2008.]

History

Harrisburg was surveyed in 1826 and formally named "Harrisburg" by its founder, John Richardson Harris. Harris named the town both after himself and after Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which had been named for his grandfather.

In 1835, the General Council of Texas, a provisional government of Texas, made Harrisburg its capital. On April 16, 1836 during the Texas Revolution, almost all of Harrisburg was burned by the forces of Antonio López de Santa Anna. After the Texas Revolution ended, the city of Houston was founded just west of Harrisburg and was named county seat of Harrisburg (later shortened to Harris) County and capital of the Republic of Texas.

In 1851, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway began construction of its line between Harrisburg and Alleyton, Texas. After the Civil War, the railroad expanded and changed its name to the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad. Harrisburg remained an important rail town until a fire in the 1870s destroyed the rail yards, which were rebuilt in Houston.

The population of Harrisburg dwindled with the loss of the railroads and with the widening of the Houston Ship Channel in 1919. In December 1926, the City of Houston annexed Harrisburg.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Harrisburg is served by the Houston Independent School District.

Most residences are zoned to [http://es.houstonisd.org/jrharrises J. R. Harris Elementary School] . [" [http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/JRHarris.pdf J. R. Harris Elementary Attendance Zone] ." "Houston Independent School District".] Some are zoned to [http://es.houstonisd.org/davilaes Dávila Elementary School] . [" [http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/DavilaES.pdf Davila Elementary Attendance Zone] ." "Houston Independent School District".]

All residences are zoned to [http://www.deadyms.org/ Deady Middle School] [" [http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/DeadyMS.pdf Deady Middle Attendance Zone] ." "Houston Independent School District".] and Milby High School. [" [http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/MilbyHS.pdf Milby High School Attendance Zone] ." "Houston Independent School District".]

Public libraries

Harrisburg is served by the Stanaker Branch of Houston Public Library.

Postal service

The United States Postal Service operates the Harrisburg Post Office at 8330 Manchester Street, 77012-2137.

References

*Handbook of Texas|id=HH/hvh27|name=Harrisburg, Texas

ee also