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]
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]
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]
