SPRING, TX

Spring is a census-designated place (CDP) within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Houston in Harris County, Texas, United States, part of the metropolitan area. The population was 62,559 at the 2020 census. While the name "Spring" is popularly applied to a large area of northern Harris County and a smaller area of southern Montgomery County, the original town of Spring, now known as Old Town Spring, is located at the intersection of Spring-Cypress and Hardy roads and encompasses a relatively small area of perhaps .

History

The large geographic area now known as Spring was originally inhabited by the Orcoquiza Native Americans. In 1836, the Texas General Council of the Provisional Government placed what is now the town of Spring in the Harrisburg municipality. In 1838, William Pierpont placed a trading post on Spring Creek. In 1840, the town of Spring had 153 residents. By the mid-1840s, many German immigrants, including Gus Bayer and Carl Wunsche, moved to the area and began farming. People from Louisiana and other parts of the post-Civil War Southern U.S. settled in Spring. The main cash crops in Spring were sugar cane and cotton; area residents also grew vegetables.

The International and Great Northern Railroad, built through Spring, opened in 1871, which caused Spring to expand. In 1873, Spring received a post office. By 1884, Spring had 150 residents, two steam saw and grist mills, two cotton gins, three churches, and several schools. In 1901–1903, the International-Great Northern Railroad opened, connecting Spring to Fort Worth. Spring, now with a roundhouse, became a switchyard with 200 rail workers and fourteen track yards. The population increased to 1,200 by 1910. The Spring State Bank opened in 1912. In 1923, the roundhouse relocated to Houston, causing Spring to enter a decline; by 1931, Spring had 300 people. The bank was robbed several times in the 1930s; it was stated that Bonnie and Clyde robbed the bank once. The bank consolidated with Tomball Bank in 1935.

By 1947, Spring had 700 residents. In the 1970s, Houston's suburbs began to expand to the north, and more subdivisions and residential areas opened in the Spring area. Some older houses in the town of Spring received restorations and housed shops. The Old Town Spring Association opened in 1980 to promote the Old Town Spring shopping area, which consists of the restored houses. In 1984 and 1989, the Spring area had 15,000 residents. By 1989, Old Town Spring became a tourist area. In 1990, the Spring area had 33,111 residents.

From 1969 to 1992, the Goodyear airship America was based in Spring from its large hangar visible just off Interstate 45. Takeoffs and landings were a major attraction and motorists continually pulled off to the interstate's shoulders to watch. In 1992 the America was moved to Akron, Ohio, and the massive hangar was eventually torn down. As of 2020, the hangar's concrete foundation is still visible at the intersection of Holzwarth Road and Meadow Edge Lane west of Lowe's Home Improvement Center.

The 1992 Log Cabin Republicans convention was held in Spring.

Geography

Spring is located at (30.054127, -95.386991).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.51%, is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, stifling, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Spring has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 62,559 people, 20,185 households, and 15,092 families residing in the CDP.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 54,298 people, 18,050 households, and 14,068 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,300.8 people per square mile (890.1/km²). There were 19,191 housing units at an average density of 813.2 per square mile (314.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 63.8% White, 19.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 9.3% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 28.4% of the population.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 36,385 people, 12,302 households, and 9,829 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,520.0 people per square mile (586.8/km²). There were 12,714 housing units at an average density of 531.1 per square mile (205.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.01% White, 6.99% African American, 0.51% Native American, 1.42% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 5.62% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 16.06% of the population.

There were 12,302 households, out of which 46.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 31.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $56,662, and the median income for a family was $60,934. Males had a median income of $42,134 versus $30,270 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,027. About 3.1% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

Local government

The Spring Fire Department serves areas within the Spring CDP and some areas outside the CDP with Spring addresses. The fire department is headquartered at 656 E. Louetta, in the middle of the CDP. Stations within the Spring CDP include Station 71 at 646 E. Louetta, Station 73 at 4923 Treaschwig Road, Station 74 at 24030 Old Aldine-Westfield, and Station 78 at 1225 Booker Road. Station 77 at 2900 Cypresswood is adjacent to the Spring CDP, on the other side of Interstate 45. The North Harris County Regional Water Authority provides water services to the Spring CDP, which is located in Voting District No. 5. The Texas House of Representatives bill that created the water authority, HB 2965, was signed into law on June 18, 1999. On January 15, 2000, voters voted to confirm the creation of the authority in a special election.

Harris County Housing Authority (HCHA) operates Louetta Village, a public housing complex for seniors near the Spring CDP, with a Spring postal address. It has 116 units.

County representation

Spring is within Harris County Precinct 4. As of 2011 Jack Cagle heads the precinct. The CDP is served by Harris County Sheriff's Office District II Patrol, headquartered from the Humble Substation at 7900 Will Clayton Parkway in Humble. Areas west of Interstate 45 which have Spring addresses and are located outside the CDP are served by Harris County Sheriff's Office District I Patrol, headquartered from the Cypresswood Substation at 6831 Cypresswood Drive. The office formerly operated the Old Town Spring Storefront, which was located in Old Town Spring.

Harris County Precinct 4 operates a recycling center at Jesse H. Jones Park, located southeast of the Spring CDP. Montgomery County operates the Precinct 3 Recycling Center at 1122 Pruitt Road in an unincorporated area of Montgomery County, north of the Spring CDP.

The Harris Health System (formerly Harris County Hospital District) designated the E. A. "Squatty" Lyons Health Center in Humble for the ZIP code 77373. The designated public hospital is Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in northeast Houston.

State and federal representation

Spring is located in District 150 of the Texas House of Representatives. As of 2017 Valoree Swanson represents the district. Spring is within District 7 of the Texas Senate; as of 2008 Dan Patrick represents the district.

Spring is in Texas's 2nd congressional district; as of 2020 Dan Crenshaw is the representative.

Spring's designated United States Postal Service post office is the Spring Post Office at 1411 Wunsche Loop. The post office serves around 80,000 people.

Economy

In January 2010 the Houston Business Journal reported that real estate officials said that ExxonMobil planned to build a corporate campus in unincorporated Harris County along Interstate 45, adjacent to the Spring CDP. According to the article, ExxonMobil plans to consolidate thousands of employees from Houston and Fairfax County, Virginia into the facility; employees from over two dozen locations in Greater Houston are expected to be consolidated into the new facility. The 9,000-employee campus opened in 2014, and is due to become ExxonMobil's new headquarters as announced in 2022, after moving from its campus Irving, Texas.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

All areas within the Spring CDP are within the Spring Independent School District. Several elementary schools, George E. Anderson, Chet Burchett, Pearl M. Hirsch, Mildred I. Jenkins, Ginger McNabb, Northgate Crossing, Salyers, Lewis Eugene Smith, and John A. Winship, are within the CDP and serve sections of the CDP. Marshall Elementary School was scheduled to open in 2010.

Four middle schools, Bailey, Dueitt, Springwoods Village, and Twin Creeks, are within the CDP and serve sections of the CDP. All residents are zoned to Spring High School. Carl Wunsche Sr. High School is in the Spring CDP. In February 2017 the district proposed redrawing the attendance boundaries of its high schools; this would take effect in the 2020–2021 school year. According to the proposed 2020-2021 high school map, the eastern portion of the Spring CDP will be reassigned from Spring High School to Dekaney High School. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas the district delayed the high school boundary changes until at least 2022–2023.

Harris County residents with Spring addresses that are not in the CDP either attend schools in Spring ISD or Klein Independent School District. Montgomery County residents with Spring addresses attend schools in Conroe Independent School District. Areas in Klein ISD with "Spring" addresses are served by Klein Oak High School, Klein High School, and Klein Collins High School. Areas in Conroe ISD with "Spring" addresses are served by Oak Ridge High School and Grand Oaks High School on the eastern side, and both The Woodlands High School and The Woodlands College Park High School on the western side.

=History of public schools=

Originally Spring was served by the Spring Common School District. In 1935 that district and the Harrell Common School District merged, forming the Spring Independent School District. The Southwell School, the segregated African-American school, served Spring from the early 1900s until 1945. In 1932 the Wunsche family donated land to the Spring school district, and the Carl Wunsche School, serving middle and high school, opened. In 1947 an addition opened and elementary school students began to be served by Wunsche. Salyers, opened in 1959 as Spring Elementary School, was the first dedicated elementary school of Spring ISD. As a result of Salyers opening, elementary school classes were removed from Wunsche School. Spring High School opened in 1969, taking high school students from Wunsche. As a result, Wunsche became SISD's first dedicated middle school.

Winship Elementary School's classes began in fall 1972; the Winship campus opened on December 15 of that year. Jenkins opened on February 6, 1977. Hirsch opened in 1978. Anderson opened in 1979. Dueitt opened in 1980. Wunsche closed as a regular middle school in 1983, and it was retrofitted to become a multi-purpose school. Twin Creeks, which took the middle school population of Wunsche, opened in 1984. Smith opened in 1986. Anderson was named a 1989-90 National Blue Ribbon School. Burchett opened in August 2005. Bailey opened in August 2006 and was dedicated on October 15 of that year. By the spring of 2015, Spring ISD planned to have built a new elementary school and High School #4 within the Spring CDP. Middle School #8 (Springwoods Village) is scheduled to open in fall 2020.

Private schools

Langtry Preparatory Academy, a private school, is located in the Spring CDP.

Area private schools:

In addition St. Thomas High School, an all boys' high school in central Houston, has a bus service from and to St. Edward Catholic School. In 2013 Saint John XXIII High School, in Greater Katy, also served the Spring area; Frassati opened in 2013 with the 9th grade and did not immediately serve all grade levels.

=Northwoods Catholic School=

Northwoods Catholic School, a private Catholic school in the Spring area, was located off of the intersection of Farm to Market Road 2920 and Gosling Road, in a campus. It used a curriculum from the Legionaries of Christ. Established circa 1999, it was not affiliated with the archdiocese. It initially had 13 students, and was in a facility in the Ponderosa Forest neighborhood, an apartment clubhouse temporarily used as a school.

In 2003 it had 200 students. By that year its permanent facility opened; it had a price tag of $6 million. In 2004 it had 250 students. In 2005 academic dean Susan Horne became the principal, and the previous principal, Joe Noonan, became Northwood's executive director. In 2010 it had about 230 students, with about 40% of them originating from The Woodlands. The building's first floor had of space. Its second floor, with offices, computer and science labs, and a library, was blessed on August 13, 2010, and opened on August 18 of that year. It was built in three months.

In the 2015–2016 school year, the school's final year of operation, it had 268 students; it was projected to have 160 students for the following school year. The school announced on May 4, 2016, that it was closing, and a shrinking budget and declining enrollment were cited as reasons. It closed on June 30, 2016. An area developer who was buying land from the school got into a legal dispute with the owner of the land and with a Catholic priest.

Community colleges

Lone Star College System (formerly the North Harris Montgomery Community College District) serves the areas of Spring ISD, Klein ISD, and Conroe ISD, and therefore the entire Spring area. Areas in Cy-Fair ISD (and therefore Lakes on Eldridge) are located in Lone Star College. Residents of Spring ISD and two other K–12 school districts voted to create the North Harris County College. The community college district began operations in the northern hemisphere fall of 1973.

Public libraries

Harris County Public Library (HCPL) operates several library branches.

HCPL operates the Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library at Mercer Park at 22248 Aldine Westfield Road, south of the Spring CDP. The branch opened in 1986. It was constructed on donated land. It was named after Baldwin Boettcher, a German settler. His descendants deeded the homestead to Harris County. The plans stated that the Boettcher staff would assist the Mercer Park staff in finding any botanical reference books that they or the public need.

The Barbara Bush Branch Library at Cypress Creek is located in at 6817 Cypresswood Drive in an area with a Spring address west of the Spring CDP. The branch originally opened in June 1976. The Library was upgraded and expanded in 2002. Construction of the current library began in the northern hemisphere summer of 2000. The current branch was anticipated to house over 120,000 books and materials, making it twice as large as the previous branch. Jesse Sendejas of the Houston Chronicle said there was "a need to provide a more spacious and accommodating facility to Spring and its surrounding areas. That was apparent when county voters approved a $15 million bond for library improvements in November 1997."

Parks and recreation

Harris County Precinct 4 operates parks in the Spring CDP. Southwell Park, a facility located at 27419 Nelson Street, includes the B.F. Clark Community Building, a picnic pavilion with tables and a barbecue pit, one lighted basketball pavilion, barbecue grills, toilets, and two playgrounds: one for children aged 2 through 5 and one for those aged 5 through 12. Bayer Park, a facility at 24811 West Hardy Road, includes four lighted softball fields, seven lighted baseball fields, and toilets. Pundt Park is a park at 4129 Spring Creek Drive that was being developed as of 2008. The park was to have a canoe launch, a pavilion facility with a meeting room and toilets, a playground facility, picnic areas, and a trail system connecting Bayer Park to the Spring Creek Greenway. Precinct 4 also operates the Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, south of and adjacent to the Spring CDP at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road. The facility includes the Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library, an endangered species garden with a beaver pond, a canoe launch, picnic areas, a playground for children aged 6 through 12, a tea house, a trail, and a visitor center.

The Cypresswood Golf club is located at 21602 Cypresswood Drive in the CDP. The club leases the land from Harris County and maintains the facilities.

A water park called Six Flags Hurricane Harbor SplashTown is located in Spring. Old Town Spring is a popular shopping area in Spring.

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands is in proximity to Spring.

Old Town Spring

Old Town Spring is an old town with over 150 shops, restaurants, and art galleries in Spring, a community in unincorporated Harris County, Texas.

Old Town Spring is north of the city of Houston and outside Beltway 8. Many of the original buildings, some over a hundred years old, now house places to buy antiques, collectibles, clothing, and gifts.

The population in the Old Town Spring area started growing in the early 19th century when the Spanish and French came to trade with the local Akokisa (Orcoquisac) Indians. The small town grew consistently until the early 20th century. At one time the town had as many as five saloons and a gambling hall. The town thrived on the booming railroad business in South Texas and resulting industrialization.

After the Depression, Prohibition, and a relocation of the railroad headquarters, the small town slowly declined in population until Houston's Oil boom in the 1970s and 1980s brought merchants back to the area to make the town what it is today.

This town is rumored to have been a robbery victim of Bonnie and Clyde. Though the bank building still has bullet holes from several robberies in the 1920s and 1930s.

In 2015, a parish of the Greater Church of Lucifer opened in the town, which resulted in over a hundred protestors. The Greater Church of Lucifer in Old Town Spring closed in April 2016.

Notable people

Photo Gallery