Alief, Houston, Texas
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Alief is an area in Harris County that is mostly within the city limits of Houston, Texas. A small portion of the community is in unincorporated Harris County, which is in Houston's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Although this portion is an ETJ, local laws and essential services are primarily governed at the county level. This area is within the Houston zip codes of 77072, 77082, and 77083. The Alief Post Office still maintains a non-Houston zip code of 77411.
Alief was originally called Dairy when it was first settled in 1894 by Jacamiah Seaman Daughtery. It was later renamed Alief after Alief Ozelda Magee, the community's first postmistress.
Alief initially was a rural community. Corn, cotton, and rice were grown in Alief. Cattle were also raised in Alief. A single schoolhouse served the areas of Alief, Addicks, and Barker until 1906. In 1911, a three-story building served as a school and community center for church services and community events. Alief’s second general store opened in 1915; the stores were popular gathering places for residents. By 1920 a few Aliefians had automobiles. Electric service, however, wasn’t available until 1935, and residents had to wait several more years for telephone lines to be installed. A section of central Alief spoke French but dwindled by the late-1990's after decades of urbanization.
Alief became heavily urbanized during the 1970's and 1980's; the population quadrupled between 1970 and 1985. The city of Houston annexed large portions of the city starting in 1977. METRO established bus routes to Alief.
Portions of the second Chinatown are within the Alief area.
The Alief YMCA is in the area.
Education
The Alief Independent School District serves the area. High schools in Alief ISD are assigned by a lottery, which can result in the student going to either Alief Elsik High School, Alief Hastings High School, or Alief Taylor High School. They can also choose to attend Alief Kerr High School.Despite being located in Houston, it is not served by the Houston Independent School District.
Alief Montessori Community School, a charter school, is also located in Alief.
It is served by the Henington-Alief Regional Branch of Houston Public Library.
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