Balch Springs, Texas
Encyclopedia
Balch Springs is a city in Dallas County
, Texas
, United States
. It is both a suburb of Dallas
and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The population was 19,375 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau
estimate placed the population at 20,003.
and 34 miles southeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
. The city is bordered by Mesquite
to the north and east, and Dallas to the south and west.
Major highways running through Balch Springs include Interstate 635
, which bisects the city into two nearly equal halves. Interstate 20
and U.S. Highway 175
run along Balch Springs' southern border.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21 km²), of which, 8.1 square miles (21 km²) of it is land and 0.12% is water.
. The community began to grow rapidly along with the city of Dallas and other Dallas County towns. To avoid annexation by Dallas, Balch Springs incorporated as a city on June 13, 1953. The new city encompassed the communities of Balch Springs, Zipp City, Five Points, Jonesville, and Triangle as well as portions of Rylie
and Kleberg. A mayor-council form of government was adopted after incorporation. By 1956, Balch Springs had a population of around 3,500. The city was home to 6,821 residents at the 1960 census. In September 1964, a post office opened in the city and in 1965, the first taxes were levied. A 1966 attempt to disincorporate the community was unsuccessful. By 1970, the population had risen to 10,464 as the construction of new roads made commuting to surrounding cities easier. In 1988, residents voted to become part of the neighboring city of Mesquite, but the election was declared invalid. Two years later, the 1990 census reported a total of 17,406 people living in the city. The 2000 population was 19,375.
of 2000, there were 19,375 people, 6,175 households, and 4,828 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,404.7 people per square mile (928.1/km²). There were 6,504 housing units at an average density of 807.2 per square mile (311.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.90% White, 18.52% African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 14.05% from other races
, and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.72% of the population.
There were 6,175 households out of which 46.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples
living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.49.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.1% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,087, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $29,256 versus $26,611 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,476. About 10.7% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
, while the northeast portion is served by Mesquite Independent School District
. The two portions are roughly each one half of the city.
Most Mesquite ISD students are zoned to A.C. New Middle School (grades 6-8, Balch Springs) and West Mesquite High School
(9-12). Some MISD students (in the portion zoned to McWhorter) are zoned to Wilkinson Middle School (6-8) and WMHS. A small portion (the portion zoned to Moss) of Balch Springs is zoned to Agnew Middle School (7-8) and Mesquite High School
. All secondary schools mentioned are in the city of Mesquite.
Dallas ISD students are zoned to:
Students zoned to Lagow continue on to E.B. Comstock Middle School (7-8) and H. Grady Spruce High School
(9-10).
Students zoned to Cuellar and Runyon continue on to Fred F. Florence Middle School (7-8) and W.W. Samuell High School (9-12). All DISD schools mentioned are in the city of Dallas.
Balch Springs Middle School will open in an area in or near Balch Springs in 2012.
As of 2006 some Balch Springs residents wish for the DISD portion to be rezoned into MISD.
Dallas County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,218,899 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile . There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is both a suburb of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The population was 19,375 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
estimate placed the population at 20,003.
Geography
Balch Springs is located at 32°43′3"N 96°36′55"W (32.717381, -96.615154). It is situated approximately 16 miles east of Downtown DallasDowntown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
and 34 miles southeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas...
. The city is bordered by Mesquite
Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite is a city located within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas. As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 139,824.-History:The city was founded May 22, 1873, by a Texas & Pacific Railway engineer who purchased land along the Texas & Pacific line outside of Dallas...
to the north and east, and Dallas to the south and west.
Major highways running through Balch Springs include Interstate 635
Interstate 635
Interstate 635 may refer to:* Interstate 635 , a connector highway between Interstate 35 in Overland Park, Kansas and Interstate 29 in Kansas City, Missouri...
, which bisects the city into two nearly equal halves. Interstate 20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
and U.S. Highway 175
U.S. Route 175
U.S. Highway 175 is an east-west United States highway, its span completely within the state of Texas. It comes very close to meeting its "parent", US 75, but decommissioning and rerouting in downtown Dallas, Texas bring it a couple of miles short. Before the decommissioning of US 75 south of...
run along Balch Springs' southern border.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21 km²), of which, 8.1 square miles (21 km²) of it is land and 0.12% is water.
History
The area was first settled in the 1840s. Around 1879 John M. Balch and his family settled south of Mesquite in unincorporated Dallas County. Mr. Balch found several springs on his land, one of which ran all year-round. Local residents began referring to the springs on Mr. Balch's property as Balch Springs, and use of the name continued even after he moved away a few years after his arrival. Around 1885, a county school was named after the springs. A small church and a cemetery were near the school. During the early 1900s, the community was widely dispersed and consisted mostly of farms. Electricity, provided by Texas Power and Light, was introduced in 1939. Gas and telephone service arrived shortly after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The community began to grow rapidly along with the city of Dallas and other Dallas County towns. To avoid annexation by Dallas, Balch Springs incorporated as a city on June 13, 1953. The new city encompassed the communities of Balch Springs, Zipp City, Five Points, Jonesville, and Triangle as well as portions of Rylie
Rylie, Dallas, Texas
Rylie is a neighborhood in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas, Texas that was formerly an unincorporated community in Dallas County. Rylie is located between Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 175 along a former Southern Pacific Railroad line, southeast of Downtown Dallas.-History:Rylie was the...
and Kleberg. A mayor-council form of government was adopted after incorporation. By 1956, Balch Springs had a population of around 3,500. The city was home to 6,821 residents at the 1960 census. In September 1964, a post office opened in the city and in 1965, the first taxes were levied. A 1966 attempt to disincorporate the community was unsuccessful. By 1970, the population had risen to 10,464 as the construction of new roads made commuting to surrounding cities easier. In 1988, residents voted to become part of the neighboring city of Mesquite, but the election was declared invalid. Two years later, the 1990 census reported a total of 17,406 people living in the city. The 2000 population was 19,375.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 19,375 people, 6,175 households, and 4,828 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,404.7 people per square mile (928.1/km²). There were 6,504 housing units at an average density of 807.2 per square mile (311.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.90% White, 18.52% African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 14.05% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.72% of the population.
There were 6,175 households out of which 46.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.49.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.1% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,087, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $29,256 versus $26,611 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,476. About 10.7% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Public safety
Balch Springs Fire Department serves the City with one fire station. This station runs one ladder truck, two engines, one booster and one Battalion Chief. The department has a minimum manning of eight fire fighters on shift 24/7. All fire fighters are certified as EMT or Paramedic. Balch Springs has 30 professional fire fighters, One Chief, and an Inspector. The Balch Springs Fire Department is a Civil Service Department. The Fire Department responds and manages all Fire and EMS incidents.Public schools
The southwest portion of Balch Springs is served by Dallas Independent School DistrictDallas Independent School District
The Dallas Independent School District is a school district based in Dallas, Texas . Dallas ISD, which operates schools in much of Dallas County, is the second largest school district in Texas and the twelfth largest in the United States.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically...
, while the northeast portion is served by Mesquite Independent School District
Mesquite Independent School District
The Mesquite Independent School District is a school district in Mesquite, Texas which follows the standard definition of an independent school district.The district is rather large, containing in excess of 35,000...
. The two portions are roughly each one half of the city.
Mesquite Independent School District
Mesquite ISD students are zoned to one of the following elementary schools:- Floyd Elementary School (PreK-5, Balch Springs)
- Gray Elementary School (PreK-5, Balch Springs)
- Hodges Elementary School (PreK-6, Balch Springs)
- Mackey Elementary School (PreK-5, Balch Springs)
- McWhorter Elementary School (PreK-5, Mesquite)
- Moss Elementary School (K-6, Mesquite)
Most Mesquite ISD students are zoned to A.C. New Middle School (grades 6-8, Balch Springs) and West Mesquite High School
West Mesquite High School
West Mesquite High School is a secondary school in Mesquite, Texas, United States. The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Mesquite Independent School District....
(9-12). Some MISD students (in the portion zoned to McWhorter) are zoned to Wilkinson Middle School (6-8) and WMHS. A small portion (the portion zoned to Moss) of Balch Springs is zoned to Agnew Middle School (7-8) and Mesquite High School
Mesquite High School (Mesquite, Texas)
Mesquite High School is a high school in Mesquite, Texas. Physically, the school lies adjacent to the intersection of Beltline Rd/East Davis Rd as well as Beltline Rd/East Gross Rd....
. All secondary schools mentioned are in the city of Mesquite.
Dallas Independent School District
- Cuellar Elementary School (PK-6)
- Lagow Elementary School (PK-6)
- Runyon Elementary School (PreK-6)
Students zoned to Lagow continue on to E.B. Comstock Middle School (7-8) and H. Grady Spruce High School
H. Grady Spruce High School
H. Grady Spruce High School is a public school in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas, Texas. H. Grady Spruce High School, which covers grades 9-12, is a part of the Dallas Independent School District....
(9-10).
Students zoned to Cuellar and Runyon continue on to Fred F. Florence Middle School (7-8) and W.W. Samuell High School (9-12). All DISD schools mentioned are in the city of Dallas.
Balch Springs Middle School will open in an area in or near Balch Springs in 2012.
As of 2006 some Balch Springs residents wish for the DISD portion to be rezoned into MISD.