Early in its history, Bunker Hill Village consisted of a settlement of German farmers who, attracted by its verdant forest of pines and hardwoods, established sawmills to cut timber. In fact, County highway maps as late as 1936 still showed the existence of several sawmills. Almost two decades later, as the community evolved, residents concerned that the area’s quiet, wooded environment might fall victim to overdevelopment and annexation as Houston’s growth drew ever nearer, voted to incorporate their village in December 1954 to ensure that its charm and country-estate atmosphere could be preserved for future generations.
They adopted a mayor-council form of city government and established ordinances and zoning regulations to prohibit businesses. Only single family homes are permitted in Bunker Hill Village with a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet in District B and 20,000 square feet in District A. As of the 2000 census, the population was 3,654 with approximately 1,307 homes.
Residents in Bunker Hill Village benefit not only from their own elected mayor-council system, zoning ordinances and tax rate, but also from the excellent Memorial Villages Police Department and equally regarded Village Fire Department. In addition, Bunker Hill has its own water authority. Children in Bunker Hill Village attend schools in the Spring Branch Independent School District, one of the most highly rated districts in the state. In fact, several of its schools have received National Exemplary School recognition.
With a total land area of just over 1.5 miles, the village is bounded on
the east at Blalock Road by Piney Point Village, on the north by Hedwig Village and Memorial Woods, on the west by Memorial Forest and Frostwood, and on the south by Lakeview and Whispering Oaks. The Village is quiet, yet just moments away from the bustling Memorial City Mall and Houston’s main east-west corridor, the Katy Freeway (Interstate 10).
Located in a truly unique area, as Houston continues to grow, the environment in Bunker Hill and the other Memorial Villages has become even more in demand. Residents are justly proud of their community and work hard to preserve it. The area’s large lots, tranquil setting, strict zoning ordinances, and country origins attract newcomers, as well as long-time Houston residents, in search of space and peaceful surroundings.
