Manchester is a community in southeastern Houston, Texas, United States.
Manchester has 6 square miles (16 km2) of area. [1] It is located in close proximity to the Houston Ship Channel, [2] and many chemical plants, refineries, and sewage facilities.
Manchester began in the 1860s as a railroad switch. By the 1970s the area became predominantly industrial and by the 1980s the area became predominantly Hispanic. [3]
The State of Texas concluded that, since 2000, the area had the highest annual averages of 1,3-Butadiene of any area in Texas. [4] On May 27, 2005, the State opened a pollution monitor in Manchester. [5]
In 2019 Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner added Manchester to the Complete Communities program. [6]
About 455 houses combined are in Harrisburg and Manchester. Area features include chemical plants, refineries, sewage facilities, [7] car crushing facilities, and hazardous cargo areas. Nearby plants are owned by Goodyear, LyondellBasell, Texas Petro-Chemicals, and Valero. [8]
It is near Magnolia Park. [2]
Manchester is in Houston City Council District I. [9]
The Harris Health System (formerly Harris County Hospital District) designated the Ripley Health Center for the ZIP code 77012. [10] In 2000 Ripley was replaced by the Gulfgate Health Center. [11] The designated public hospital is Ben Taub General Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. [10]
As of 2017 [update] about 4,000 people lived around Manchester. [1] As of 2018 [update] almost 2,000 people live in the Harrisburg/Manchester area, with 98% being Hispanic or Latino. [7]
In the city of Houston-defined Harrisburg/Manchester Super Neighborhood, which also includes Harrisburg, there were 2,926 residents in 2015. 82% were Hispanics, 14% were non-Hispanic blacks, and 3% were non-Hispanic whites. The percentages of non-Hispanic Asians and others were both zero. In 2000 the super neighborhood had 3,768 residents. 88% were Hispanics, 6% were non-Hispanic blacks, and 5% were non-Hispanic whites. The percentages of non-Hispanic Asians and others were both zero. [12]
Kristin Moe of Yes! stated that occasional bouts of illness occur due to the chemical plants, and that "Drugs, unemployment, and gangs are a problem." [8] Dina Capello of the Houston Chronicle stated in 2005 that drug dealers and prostitutes reside in the area. [13]
Manchester is within the Houston Independent School District. [14] Zoned schools include:
Hartman Park is located in Manchester. [18]