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Brief History of First Ward

In 1840, the city charter was altered in the typical fashion of the times with the city divided into wards based on the criterion of simple geography. First Ward was designated as North of Congress and West of Main. The ward had a representative within the city government. In 1906, this system was modified to the modern division of City Council districts. Thus, any description of any area of Houston as a ward is an anachronism but one that has survived for the other five wards. It is recognition of the past and a matter of pride for many people living within those wards. First Ward, just northwest of Downtown, was a working class neighborhood built along railroad tracks primarily inhabited by Italian and African-American groups. It is also the location of many commercial businesses. It has undergone tremendous change in the past ten years as a part of the overall gentrification of Downtown and its surrounding areas.

 

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Please contact Terrence Boggs at firstwardciviccouncil@gmail.com for more information on First Ward.