Third Ward, Houston, Texas

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A sign indicating Houston's Third Ward

The Third Ward is one of the six historic wards of Houston, Texas, United States.

The Third Ward, located inside the 610 Loop is immediately southeast of Downtown Houston and to the east of the Texas Medical Center. The ward became the center of Houston's African-American community.

The People's Party II, an activist group led by Carl Hampton was organized in the Third Ward in the Spring of 1970 to address police brutality on Blacks in the community.

Third Ward is traditionally known for its high crime rate and being one of Houston's poorest, most crime infested neighborhoods. Third Ward is also known for immense drug trafficking.

1 Politics
2 Education
3 Community services
4 Notable residents
5 References
6 See also

[edit] Politics

The Third Ward is in Texas's 18th congressional district.^[1] Its representative as of 2008 is Sheila Jackson Lee.

[edit] Education

[edit] Colleges and universities

Texas Southern University

The Greater Third Ward area is home to two universities: the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.

[edit] Primary and secondary schools

[edit] Public schools

Yates High School

Area students attend schools in the Houston Independent School District, including Ryan Middle School^[2] and Yates High School.^[3]

Contemporary Learning Center is west of the third ward on the other side of State Highway 288.

KIPP: the Knowledge Is Power Program operates the KIPP Liberation College Preparatory School, a middle school charter school, in the Third Ward.

The University of Houston operates the University of Houston Charter School, a charter elementary school.

[edit] Gallery of public schools

Ryan Middle School

[edit] Private schools

Two Roman Catholic schools, St. Mary of the Purification School (Kindergarten through grade 5 ]) and St. Peter the Apostle Middle School (grades 6 through 8 [1]), are in the area. They are a part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Houston.

[edit] Public libraries

The Third Ward is served by the Houston Public Library Smith Branch [2].

[edit] Community services

The Quentin Mease Community Hospital, operated by the Harris County Hospital District, is located in the Third Ward.

In addition, the district operates the Martin Luther King Health Center at 3601 North MacGregor Way in Houston.

[edit] Police services

The Houston Police Department's South Central Patrol Division ^[4], headquartered at 2022 St. Emanuel.^[5], serves the neighborhood.

[edit] Fire services

Fire and Emergency Medical Services are provided by Houston Fire Department station #25.

[edit] Parks

Emancipation Park and Emancipation Community Center are located at 3018 Dowling [3]. Hermann Park is west of the Third Ward.

[edit] Notable residents

This section does not cite any references or sources. (April 2008)
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Famous people who have lived in Third Ward include Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad (Formerly Phylicia Ayers-Allen), Beyoncé, Sam Lightnin' Hopkins, Dexter Manley, Big Moe, Pat Parker^[6] and others.

Carl Hampton, Rick Lowe, Otabenga Jones and Associates, Flower Man.