Spring is a census-designated place (CDP) within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Houston in Harris County, Texas, United States, part of the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area.[3] The population was 62,559 at the 2020 census.[4] 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 perhaps 1 square kilometer (0.39 sq mi).
History
The large geographic area now known as Spring was originally inhabited by the OrcoquizaNative 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 WarSouthern U.S. settled in Spring. The main cash crops in Spring were sugar cane and cotton; area residents also grew vegetables.[3]
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. After the roundhouse relocated to Houston in 1923, the population of Spring declined; by 1931, Spring had 300 people. The Spring State Bank opened in 1912. The bank was robbed several times in the 1930s; there was a false rumor that one of the robberies was committed by Bonnie and Clyde. The bank consolidated with Tomball Bank in 1935.[3]
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,[3] 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.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 23.6 square miles (61.0 km2), of which 23.2 square miles (60.1 km2) is land and 0.35 square miles (0.9 km2), or 1.51%, is water.[6]
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.[7]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 62,559 people, 20,185 households, and 15,092 families residing in the CDP. As of the census[2] 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 inhabitants per square mile (888.3/km2). There were 19,191 housing units at an average density of 813.2 per square mile (314.0/km2).
In 2010, 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. In 2000, 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.
In 2000, 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 as of 2000. 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.[11][12] 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.[13] The North Harris County Regional Water Authority provides water services to the Spring CDP, which is located in Voting District No. 5.[14] 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.[15]
Spring is within Harris County Precinct 3. Spring previously was in Precinct 4 until a redistricting plan approved in October 2021.[17][18] As of 2022 Tom Ramsey heads the precinct.[19] The CDP is served by Harris County Sheriff's Office District II Patrol,[20] headquartered from the Humble Substation at 7900 Will Clayton Parkway in Humble.[21] 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,[22] headquartered from the Cypresswood Substation at 6831 Cypresswood Drive.[23] The office formerly operated the Old Town Spring Storefront,[24] which was located in Old Town Spring.[25]
Harris County Precinct 4 operates a recycling center at Jesse H. Jones Park, located southeast of the Spring CDP.[26][27]Montgomery County operates the Precinct 3 Recycling Center at 1122 Pruitt Road in an unincorporated area of Montgomery County, north of the Spring CDP.[28][29]
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.[30]
Spring's designated United States Postal Service post office is the Spring Post Office at 1411 Wunsche Loop.[34] The post office serves around 80,000 people.[3]
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.[35] 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.[35] The 9,000-employee[36] campus opened in 2014,[37] and is due to become ExxonMobil's new headquarters as announced in 2022, after moving from its campus in Irving, Texas.[38]
All areas within the Spring CDP are within the Spring Independent School District.[11] 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.[39] Marshall Elementary School was scheduled to open in 2010.[40][41]
Four middle schools, Bailey, Dueitt, Springwoods Village, and Twin Creeks, are within the CDP and serve sections of the CDP.[42] All residents are zoned to Spring High School.[43]Carl Wunsche Sr. High School is in the Spring CDP.[44] In February 2017 the district proposed redrawing the attendance boundaries of its high schools; this would take effect in the 2020–2021 school year.[45] 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.[11][46][47] Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas the district delayed the high school boundary changes until at least 2022–2023.[48]
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.[49] Salyers, opened in 1959 as Spring Elementary School, was the first dedicated elementary school of Spring ISD.[50] 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.[49]
Winship Elementary School's classes began in fall 1972; the Winship campus opened on December 15 of that year.[51] Jenkins opened on February 6, 1977.[52] Hirsch opened in 1978.[53] Anderson opened in 1979.[54] Dueitt opened in 1980.[55] 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,[49] opened in 1984.[56] Smith opened in 1986.[57] Anderson was named a 1989–90 National Blue Ribbon School.[58] Burchett opened in August 2005.[59] Bailey opened in August 2006 and was dedicated on October 15 of that year.[60] By the spring of 2015, Spring ISD planned to have built a new elementary school and High School #4 within the Spring CDP.[61] Middle School #8 (Springwoods Village) is scheduled to open in fall 2020.[62]
Private schools
Langtry Preparatory Academy, a private school, is located in the Spring CDP.[63]
In addition St. Thomas High School, an all-boys' high school in central Houston, has a bus service to and from St. Edward Catholic School.[70] In 2013 Saint John XXIII High School, in Greater Katy, also served the Spring area;[71] Frassati opened in 2013 with the 9th grade and did not immediately serve all grade levels.[72]
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,[73] in a 51-acre (21 ha) campus.[74] It used a curriculum from the Legionaries of Christ. Established c. 1999, it was not affiliated with the archdiocese.[73] It initially had 13 students,[74] and was in a facility in the Ponderosa Forest neighborhood,[75] an apartment clubhouse temporarily used as a school.[76]
In 2003 it had 200 students. By that year its permanent facility opened; it had a price tag of $6 million.[76] In 2004 it had 250 students.[77] In 2005 academic dean Susan Horne became the principal, and the previous principal, Joe Noonan, became Northwood's executive director.[75] In 2010 it had about 230 students, with about 40% of them originating from The Woodlands. The building's first floor had 44,000 square feet (4,100 m2) of space. Its 22,000-square-foot (2,000 m2) second floor, with offices, computer and science labs, and a library,[74] was blessed on August 13, 2010, and opened on August 18 of that year. It was built in three months.[78]
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.[73] It closed on June 30, 2016.[79] 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.[73][80][81]
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.[82] 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.[83]
HCPL operates the Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library at Mercer Park at 22248 Aldine Westfield Road, south of the Spring CDP.[84][85] The 10,137-square-foot (941.8 m2) branch opened in 1986.[84] 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.[86]
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 32,000-square-foot (3,000 m2) branch originally opened in June 1976. The Library was upgraded and expanded in 2002.[87] Construction of the current library began in the 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."[88]
Harris County Precinct 4 operates parks in the Spring CDP. Southwell Park, a 5-acre (2.0 ha) 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.[89] Bayer Park, a 30-acre (12 ha) facility at 24811 West Hardy Road, includes four lighted softball fields, seven lighted baseball fields, and toilets.[90] Pundt Park is a 380-acre (150 ha) 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.[91] Precinct 4 also operates the Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, south of and adjacent to the Spring CDP at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road.[92] 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.[84][93]
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.[94]
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.
Wunsche Bros. Saloon was the first two-story building erected in Old Town Spring. It is still standing today, although not currently open for business after a fire.
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.[citation needed]
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.
In 2015, a parish of the Greater Church of Lucifer opened in the town, which resulted in over a hundred protestors.[96][97]
Josh Beckett, MLB pitcher (Los Angeles Dodgers); born and raised in Spring and attended Spring High School; selected as USA Today's High School Pitcher of the Year[98]
Riley Ann Sawyers, child murder victim, who was a resident of Spring at the time of her murder
Eddie Steeples, actor, My Name is Earl and "Rubberband Man" from the OfficeMax ad campaigns; 1992 graduate of Klein Oak High School.
Laura Wilkinson, Olympic diver, gold medalist in platform diving 2000 Olympics
Photo gallery
Notes
^Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[10]
^"Schools". Islamic Educational Institute of Texas. Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019. - Addresses included in the link: if a school and a mosque share an address, they are co-located.
^Rosen, Jody (August 6, 2008). "Dude, You Stole My Article". Slate. Retrieved August 8, 2008. "How could I have known that I was previewing a concert to take place some 15 months later at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Spring, Texas?"
This list is incomplete. This list includes items within or related to the U.S. Census Bureau-designed Spring census designated place (CDP) and places outside of the CDP with "Spring, Texas" postal addresses. Items within or related to areas outside of the CDP are italicized. This list does not include places without "Spring, Texas" postal addresses. The community college district has no locations with Spring, Texas addresses but is listed anyway since it broadly serves residents of the CDP and others with "Spring" addresses. The public library has a location outside of the CDP and with a "Spring, Texas" address, Barbara Bush Branch Library, while the nearest library to the CDP is Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library at Mercer Park, which has an "Humble, Texas" address.
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