Editing Spring Branch, Houston (section)

==Government and infrastructure==
===Local government===
[[File:Springbranchstorefronthouston.JPG|thumb|[[Houston Police Department]] Spring Branch Storefront at 8400 Long Point Road #A]]
The Spring Branch District within Houston is served by the [[Houston Police Department]] Northwest Patrol Division,<ref>"[http://www.houstontx.gov/police/cs/beatpages/northwest.htm Crime Statistics for Northwest Patrol Division]." ''City of Houston''</ref> headquartered at 6000 Teague Road.<ref name="VIPCops">"[http://www.houstontx.gov/police/vip/vip_cops.htm VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES PROGRAM - Citizens Offering Police Support]." ''City of Houston''.</ref> The Spring Branch Storefront Station is located at Suite A at 8400 Long Point Road.<ref name="VIPCops"/>

The [[Houston Fire Department]] serves areas within Houston and operates Fire Station #5 Old Spring Branch at 2020 Hollister Road, Fire Station #38 West Side at 1120 Silber Road, Fire Station #49 at 1212 Gessner Drive, and Fire Station #77 Spring Shadows at 10155 Kempwood Drive; the stations are in Fire District 5.<ref>"[http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/index.html Fire Stations]." ''City of Houston''. Retrieved on December 10, 2008.</ref> Some [[unincorporated area]]s in Spring Branch are served by the Houston Fire Department, while others are served by the [[Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department]].<ref>"[http://www.hcfmo.net/jurisdictionsearch.aspx Jurisdiction Lookup] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427083103/http://www.hcfmo.net/jurisdictionsearch.aspx |date=2009-04-27 }}." ''Harris County''. Retrieved on April 21, 2009.</ref><!--Lookup 4384 bRITTMoore rd, 77041 and 10800 train ct, 77041--> Station 38 was built in 1955.<ref name="Station38">"[http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/station38.html Fire Station 38] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527054328/http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/station38.html |date=2010-05-27 }}." City of Houston. Retrieved on May 8, 2010.</ref> Station 49 opened in a former Spring Branch Volunteer Fire Department facility at Campbell at Long Point in 1956. Station 49 moved to Gessner at Westview in 1961.<ref name="Station49">"[http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/station49.html Fire Station 49] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527190251/http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/station49.html |date=2010-05-27 }}." City of Houston. Retrieved on May 8, 2010.</ref> Station 5 moved from what is now [[Downtown Houston]] to Spring Branch in 1977.<ref name="Station05">"[http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/station5.html Fire Station 5] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529202611/http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/station5.html |date=2010-05-29 }}." City of Houston. Retrieved on May 8, 2010.</ref> Station 77 opened in 1990.<ref>"[http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/station77.html Fire Station 77] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527052750/http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/station77.html |date=2010-05-27 }}." City of Houston. Retrieved on May 8, 2010.</ref> Station 38 was last renovated during the financial year of 1995.<ref name="Station38"/> Station 49 closed in April 2008 before undergoing a $753,821.40 renovation. The station reopened on February 9, 2009, and the re-opening ceremony occurred on March 16, 2009.<ref name="Station49"/> A renovation of Station 5 is scheduled for 2011.<ref name="Station05"/> [[File:Fire Station 5 Houston.jpg|thumb|Fire Station 5, 1976]]

[[Houston City Council]] District A covers areas of Spring Branch in Houston.<ref>[http://www.houstontx.gov/council/maps2012/a.pdf City of Houston, Council District Maps, District A] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131073541/http://www.houstontx.gov/council/maps2012/a.pdf |date=2012-01-31 }}." City of Houston. Retrieved on November 5, 2011.</ref> As of 2014 Brenda Stardig represents the district.<ref name="Baird01">{{cite news|last=Baird |first=Amanda |url=https://www.chron.com/default/article/Stardig-back-in-office-with-to-do-list-5162911.php |title=Stardig back in office with to-do list |date= January 21, 2014 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> In the 1990s a small portion of Spring Branch was in City Council District G.<ref name="map3.gif">"[https://web.archive.org/web/19970211154806/http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/citygovt/council/map3.gif map3.gif]." City of Houston. February 11, 1997. Retrieved on November 7, 2011.</ref>

The city of Houston organized the areas in Spring Branch within Houston into the #8 Westbranch,<ref name="WestbranchCouncil">"[http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/SN_8.htm Super Neighborhood #8 - Westbranch] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509150111/http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/SN_8.htm |date=2008-05-09 }}." ''City of Houston''. Retrieved on April 4, 2009.</ref> #10 Spring Branch West,<ref name="SpringBranchWestCouncil">"[http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/SN_10.htm Super Neighborhood # 10 - Spring Branch West] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509091605/http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/SN_10.htm |date=2008-05-09 }}." ''City of Houston''. Retrieved on December 10, 2008.</ref> #84 Spring Shadows,<ref name="SpringShadowsCouncil">"[http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/SN_84.htm Super Neighborhood # 84 - Spring Shadows] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511172439/http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/SN_84.htm |date=2008-05-11 }}." ''City of Houston''. Retrieved on December 10, 2008.</ref> #85 Spring Branch Central,<ref name="SpringBranchCentralCouncil">"[http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/SN_85.htm Super Neighborhood # 85 - Spring Branch Central] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509150527/http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/SN_85.htm |date=2008-05-09 }}." ''City of Houston''. Retrieved on December 10, 2008.</ref> and #86 Spring Branch East super neighborhoods.<ref name="SpringBranchEastCouncil">"[http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/SN_86.htm Super Neighborhood # 86 - Spring Branch East] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605030059/http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/SN_86.htm |date=2008-06-05 }}." ''City of Houston''. Retrieved on December 10, 2008.</ref>

The council for #10 Super Neighborhood opened on May 11, 2000.<ref name="SpringBranchWestCouncil"/> The council for the #85 Super Neighborhood, which includes the Binglewood, Binglewood 5, Campbell Woods, Hollister Place, Holley Terrace, Kempwood North, Langwood II, Outpost Estates, Spring Branch Estates II, Spring Branch Oaks, Springwood/Timbercreek, and Western Oaks subdivisions, many of which still have deed restrictions, opened on August 24, 2000.<ref name="SpringBranchCentralCouncil"/> The council for the #84 Super Neighborhood, which mostly consists of deed-restricted, single family subdivisions such as Spring Shadows and also includes nine apartment complexes and one mobile home area, opened on March 14, 2005.<ref name="SpringShadowsCouncil"/> Subdivisions within Super Neighborhood #86 include Afton Village, Brykerwoods, Monarch Oaks, Ridgecrest, Hillendahl Acres, Long Point Oaks, Pine Terrace, and Westview Terrace.<ref name="SpringBranchEastCouncil"/>

In 2011 the City of Houston opened a permanent electronics recycling center in Spring Branch.<ref>Balke, Jeff. "[http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2011/09/city_opens_permanent_electroni.php City Opens Permanent Electronics Recycling Center in Spring Branch] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130125152553/http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2011/09/city_opens_permanent_electroni.php |date=2013-01-25 }}." ''[[Houston Press]]''. September 28, 2011. Retrieved on July 25, 2012.</ref>

The Spring Branch Management District is headquartered at 9610 Long Point Drive.<ref>"[http://sbmd.org/contactus.aspx Contact Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706080353/http://sbmd.org/contactus.aspx |date=2009-07-06 }}." ''Spring Branch Management District''. Retrieved on April 3, 2009.</ref> The Spring Branch Management District's mission is to positively impact public safety, business development, environmental and urban design, and mobility and transportation to help create an environment attractive to business, to facilitate profitability, and to promote the redevelopment and growth of the area.<ref name="SpringBranchManagementDistrictServicePlan">"[http://www.sbmd.org/serviceplan.html Spring Branch Management District - Service Plan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114094551/http://sbmd.org/serviceplan.html |date=2009-11-14 }}." ''Spring Branch Management District''. Retrieved on February 18, 2010.</ref> Ongoing programs spearheaded by the Spring Branch Management District include working with the Houston Police Department to promote its Blue Star Program to bring apartment complexes and multifamily residential units into compliance with current city codes, providing constable patrols to enhance security, removing graffiti on public and private property, maintaining various landscapes throughout the district, removing bandit signs, enforcing [[newspaper vending machine|news rack]] ordinance, and pursuing health code violations.<ref name="SpringBranchManagementDistrictCurrentPrograms">"[http://www.sbmd.org/inthecommunity/currentprograms.html Spring Branch Management District - Current Programs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114094446/http://sbmd.org/inthecommunity/currentprograms.html |date=2009-11-14 }}." ''Spring Branch Management District''. Retrieved on February 18, 2010.</ref> The management district's boundaries are almost entirely within the City of Houston; a portion in the north is in an [[unincorporated area]] in Harris County.<ref name="SBMDBorderMap"/><ref>[http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/sn_map_w_links.html Locate a Community Technology Center (CTC) in your Super Neighborhood !] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331101735/http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svces/TechCntrInfo/sn_map_w_links.html |date=March 31, 2009 }}. ''City of Houston''. Retrieved on April 4, 2009.</ref>

====Local politics====
As of 2012, according to Bob Stein, a [[Rice University]] political scientist, voters in [[Houston City Council]] District A tend to be older people, conservative, and [[White American]], and many follow the [[Tea Party movement]]. The voting base is such despite the presence of large Hispanic neighborhoods within District A. In the 2011 election voters in Spring Branch, for City Council District A, favored [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]] candidate [[Helena Brown (person)|Helena Brown]] over the incumbent, Brenda Stardig, because Stardig supported a "rain tax," passed in 2010, that lead to taxation of churches. However, Stardig later voted to exempt church- and non-profit-property-owners from the "rain tax". The taxation of churches had a negative reception with political conservatives in Spring Branch.<ref name="McCoy2"/> In the 1990s a small portion of Spring Branch was in City Council District G.<ref name="map3.gif"/> In 1989, during a city council race, many in Spring Branch voted for Jim Westmoreland for an at-large position. Westmoreland drew controversy after reports of a joke that was characterized as "racist" spread. Beverley Clark, the opponent and a Black teacher, defeated Westmoreland in that race.<ref>Bernstein, Alan. "[https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1989_663585 Core of white support failed to halt Westmoreland's defeat]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. November 12, 1989. A1.</ref>

===County representation===
[[Image:SpringBranchCommunityCenterHoustonTX.JPG|thumb|left|Spring Branch Community Center]]
[[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]] Precinct Three, headed by Steve Radack as of 2008, serves portions of Spring Branch.<ref>"[http://www.pct3.hctx.net/aboutprecinct/precinct3.aspx Precinct Maps: Precinct 3] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216144509/http://www.pct3.hctx.net/aboutprecinct/precinct3.aspx |date=February 16, 2012 }}." ''Harris County''. Retrieved on October 13, 2008.</ref> Harris County Precinct Four, headed by Jerry Eversole as of 2008, serves other portions of Spring Branch.<ref>"[http://www.hcp4.net/parks/parksmap.htm Parks Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723184303/http://www.hcp4.net/Parks/parksmap.htm |date=2008-07-23 }}." ''Harris County Precinct 4''. Retrieved on December 10, 2008.</ref> Harris County Constable Precinct 5 patrols much of Spring Branch.<ref>"[http://www.co.harris.tx.us/pct5/precinct5boundarymap.aspx Precinct 5 Boundary Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517224308/http://www.co.harris.tx.us/pct5/precinct5boundarymap.aspx |date=2013-05-17 }}." ''Harris County''. Accessed October 14, 2008.</ref> The unincorporated area within the Spring Branch Management District is assigned to the [[Harris County Sheriff's Office]] District IV Patrol, headquartered at the Clay Road Substation at 16715 Clay Road.<ref>"[http://www.hcso.hctx.net/fieldoperationscommand/patrolbureau/district4/ District IV Patrol] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313075033/http://www.hcso.hctx.net/fieldoperationscommand/patrolbureau/district4/ |date=2009-03-13 }}." ''[[Harris County Sheriff's Office]]''. Retrieved on April 21, 2009.</ref> The Harris County Department of Education maintains an office in the North Post Oak Building in Spring Branch.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20090322180116/http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=ContactUs3 Contact Us]." Harris County Department of Education. Retrieved on May 30, 2009.</ref> 
The [[Harris County Toll Road Authority]] operates its West Area EZ Tag Store in Spring Branch.<ref>"[http://www.hctra.org/about_locations/ EZ TAG Stores] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226210308/https://www.hctra.org/about_locations/ |date=2010-12-26 }}." [[Harris County Toll Road Authority]]. Retrieved on May 16, 2010.</ref>

Harris County Precinct 3 operates the Spring Branch Community Center and Courthouse Annex and a tax office at 1721 Pech Road in Spring Branch.<ref>"[http://www.tax.co.harris.tx.us/locations/locations.asp Branch Office Locations] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404021604/http://www.tax.co.harris.tx.us/locations/locations.asp |date=April 4, 2008 }}." ''Harris County Tax Office''. Accessed October 13, 2008.</ref><ref>"[http://www.pct3.hctx.net/cc_springbranch/default.aspx Spring Branch Community Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929101206/http://www.pct3.hctx.net/cc_springbranch/default.aspx |date=2008-09-29 }}." ''Harris County''. Accessed October 14, 2008.</ref> Alma Corporation built the building now housing the Spring Branch Community Center in the late 1960s. In 1971 Alma sold the building to Sam Houston Memorial Hospital; in 1976 the hospital sold the building to Houghton and Neville West. Harris County bought the building in 1986, causing it to become a courthouse. Bob Eckels, then the Precinct 3 commissioner, established a community center in the ground floor's north half. Steve Radack became the commissioner of Precinct 3 and began renovating the building. After the census of 1990 the county rezoned the community center and the surrounding neighborhood into Precinct 4. During the 1990s changes to the center occurred. The county moved the center back into Precinct 3 after the 2000 Census.<ref>"[http://www.pct3.hctx.net/cc_springbranch/history.aspx Spring Branch: History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626192214/http://www.pct3.hctx.net/cc_springbranch/history.aspx |date=2011-06-26 }}." ''Harris County''. Accessed October 14, 2008.</ref> In 2011 the Trini Mendenhall Sosa Community opened, taking in the previous community center.<ref>"[http://www.newsnet713.com/Article229.htm County opens new community center in Spring Branch] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120909171257/http://www.newsnet713.com/Article229.htm |date=2012-09-09 }}." ''[[Houston Banner]]''. April 11, 2011. Retrieved on June 13, 2011.</ref>

===State and federal representation===
[[File:GriffithPostOfficeHoustonTX.JPG|thumb|James Griffith Station of the [[United States Postal Service]]]]
Parts of Spring Branch located in District 136 of the [[Texas House of Representatives]] which has been represented by Republican Tony Dale since 2012.<ref name="TexasHouseOfRepDistrict136Bio">{{cite web |url=https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=136 |title=Texas House of Representatives: Representative Dale, Tony |website=Texas House of Representatives |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref><ref name="TexasTribuneTonyDale">{{cite web |url=http://www.texastribune.org/directory/tony-dale/ |title=State Representative Tony Dale |website=[[The Texas Tribune]] |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> Parts of Spring Branch located in District 138 of the [[Texas House of Representatives]], which has been represented by Republican [[Dwayne Bohac]] since 2002.<ref name="TexasTribuneDwayneBohac">{{cite web |url=http://www.texastribune.org/directory/dwayne-bohac/ |title=State Representative Dwayne Bohac |website=[[The Texas Tribune]] |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> A portion of Spring Branch is within [[Texas Senate, District 7|District 7]] of the [[Texas Senate]]; as of 2008 [[Dan Patrick (Texas politician)|Dan Patrick]] represents the district.<ref>"[http://www.senate.state.tx.us/Icons/Dist_Maps/Dist07_Map.pdf Senate District 7]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}" Map. ''[[Senate of Texas]]''. Retrieved on November 27, 2008.</ref> Parts of Spring Branch are within [[Texas Senate, District 15|District 15]] of the [[Texas Senate]]; as of 2008 [[John Whitmire]] represents the district.<ref>"[http://www.senate.state.tx.us/Icons/Dist_Maps/Dist15_Map.pdf Senate District 15] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107012444/http://www.senate.state.tx.us/Icons/Dist_Maps/Dist15_Map.pdf |date=2009-01-07 }}" Map. ''[[Senate of Texas]]''. Retrieved on September 28, 2008.</ref>

Spring Branch is primarily in [[Texas's 2nd congressional district]], which has been represented by Republican [[Dan Crenshaw]] since 2019.<ref name="GovTrackDistrict02">{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/ted_poe/400652 |title=Ted Poe, U.S. Representative for Texas's 2nd Congressional District |website=[[GovTrack]] |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> Spring Branch is partially in [[Texas's 18th congressional district]], which has been represented by Democrat [[Sheila Jackson Lee]] since 1995.<ref name="GovTrackDistrict18">{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/sheila_jackson_lee/400199 |title=Shiela Jackson Lee, U.S. Representative for Texas's 18th Congressional District |website=[[GovTrack]]}}</ref> A portion of Spring Branch is also in [[Texas's 7th congressional district]], which has been represented by Democrat [[Lizzie Fletcher]] since 2019.<ref name="GovTrackDistrict07">{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/john_culberson/400089 |title=John Culberson, U.S. Representative for Texas's 7th Congressional District |website=[[GovTrack]] |access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref>

The [[United States Postal Service]] operates post offices in Spring Branch. The James Griffith Station and the Long Point Station are in the community.<ref>"[https://archive.today/20120718061214/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/64937?p=1&service_name=post_office&z=77080 Post Office Location - JAMES GRIFFITH]." ''[[United States Postal Service]]''. Retrieved on May 11, 2009.</ref><ref>"[https://archive.today/20120715211825/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/45944?p=1&service_name=post_office&z=77080 Post Office Location - LONG POINT]." ''[[United States Postal Service]]''. Retrieved on May 11, 2009.</ref>