Bordersville, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bordersville Is an African American Community on Farm Road 1960 and State Highway 184 in Northeast Houston, Texas. The city is served by Aldine ISD, Although many residents in Bordersville are over the age of 50.
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[edit] Founding
Less than a half mile northeast of Houston Intercontinental Airport, The city began in 1927 when the sawmill at Humble closed and African Americans who had worked there were forced to leave. Edgar Borders opened a mill nearby, hired some of the unemployed, and provided wooden shacks as housing.
[edit] 1940s
In 1940 the community had one store and a population of 100 but remained at least five miles from the nearest schools, in the Aldine Independent School District; thirty-five miles from the nearest public health care at Ben Taub Hospital in Houston; and an equal distance from grocery stores and libraries. In 1941 Borders closed the mill and rented or sold the land that became Bordersville to the people living there.
[edit] 1960s
When Borders died in 1963, most residents did not own the land they lived on, but no one asked them to leave. In the 1960s local men organized a civic club that became the Bordersville Neighborhood Council, joined the Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce, dug a deep water well, and painted local houses.
In 1965 Houston annexed the community, then considered the worst pocket of poverty in the city, characterized by dilapidated houses and a lack of paved streets, running water, and sewers. Though residents were expected to pay city taxes, no provision was made for city utilities.
[edit] Present Day
The city has a current population of 906 and now has running water and sewer services provided by the City of Houston. Several developers are looking at Bordersville for future development.
