Editing Spring, Texas (section)

==History==
The large geographic area now known as Spring was originally inhabited by the [[Orcoquiza]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. In 1836, the Texas General Council of the Provisional Government placed what is now the town of Spring in the [[Harrisburg, Houston|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 American|German]] immigrants, including Gus Bayer and Carl Wunsche, moved to the area and began farming. People from [[Louisiana]] and other parts of the post-[[American Civil War|Civil War]] [[Southern United States|Southern U.S.]] settled in Spring. The main cash crops in Spring were [[sugar cane]] and [[cotton]]; residents also grew vegetables.<ref name="Handbook"/>

The [[International and Great Northern Railroad]], built through Spring, opened in 1871 and caused Spring to expand. In 1873, Spring received a [[post office]]. By 1884, Spring had 150 residents, two steam saw and [[grist mill]]s, two [[cotton gin]]s, three churches, and several schools. In 1901–1903, the [[International-Great Northern Railroad]] opened, connecting Spring to [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]]. Spring, now with a [[Railway roundhouse|roundhouse]], became a [[Rail yard|switchyard]] with 200 rail workers and 14 track yards. The population increased to 1,200 by 1910. After the roundhouse relocated to Houston in 1923, Spring's population declined; by 1931, it was 300. The Spring State Bank opened in 1912. It 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.<ref name="Handbook"/>

By 1947, Spring had 700 residents. In the 1970s, Houston's suburbs began to expand northward, and more subdivisions and residential areas opened in the Spring area. Some older houses in the town of Spring were restored 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, 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 Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]] airship [[Goodyear Blimp|''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]],<ref name="Handbook" /> 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.

The 1992 [[Log Cabin Republicans]] convention was held in Spring.