NESTLED IN the forested region north of Interstate-10, ten miles west of downtown and just minutes from Loop 610, residents of Spring Valley Village feel as though they have a little bit of the country in the
middle of the city.
While the City of Houston sprawled westward in the early days of its growth, Spring Valley insured the future of its own entity by incorporating in 1955. As with the other original Memorial Villages, incorporation has allowed Spring Valley to maintain its own city government, including mayor and city council, fire department (shared with the other Memorial Villages), and an outstanding police department.
But the original reason for incorporation was primarily the desire for zoning, and in 1956 a Zoning Commission was created. In 1957,
when Spring Valley’s rapidly growing population exceeded six hundred residents, its name was officially changed from the Town of Spring Valley to the City of Spring Valley. Decades later, with a population of almost 4000, much of the original flavor of the once rural village has been preserved.
Spanning approximately 1.6 square miles, Spring Valley is bordered by I-10 on the south and Hilshire Village on the east. Spring Branch Creek runs along its northern and eastern boundaries. At one time dirt roads, Spring Valley’s streets are named after original residents who either owned or developed the area, and wind through its heavily wooded, gently rolling terrain, crossing here and there over a creek or ravine.
Although the minimum lot size is 10,000 square feet, some of the original homes sit on lots of an acre or more. Until 1981, zoning ordinances limited single-family residential homes to one-story dwellings. Many of these older
homes have been renovated or torn down and replaced by newer construction. As is true in Bellaire and other areas with high land value, it is not unusual in Spring Valley to see a newly constructed 4,000 square-foot Georgian or traditional-style home sitting next door to a 1,700 square-foot 1950s ranch-style bungalow.
Children in Spring Valley attend schools in the highly acclaimed Spring Branch Independent School District. Elementary school children attend Valley Oaks Elementary and older children go to Spring Branch Middle School on Piney Point and Memorial High School on Echo Lane. There are also several excellent area private schools in the area.
Today, even more so than in years past, people value the small-town feel of Spring Valley and the quality of life it affords. The neighborhood continues to attract professionals and their families who are drawn to its low crime rate, excellent neighborhood schools, moderate taxes, and convenient location.
