Editing Balch Springs, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
 | name                     = Balch Springs
 | official_name            = City of Balch Springs
 | settlement_type          = [[City]]
 | image_skyline            = 
 | imagesize                = 
 | image_caption            = 
 | image_map                = {{maplink
  | id = Q804712
  | frame              = yes
  | plain              = yes
  | frame-align        = center
  | frame-width        = 280
  | frame-height       = 280
  | frame-coord        = SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q804712}}###{{coord|qid=Q111168}}###{{coord|qid=Q1439}}###{{coord|39.5|-98.35}}
  | zoom               = SWITCH:12;9;4;3
  | type               = SWITCH:shape-inverse;shape-inverse;point;point
  | stroke-width       = SWITCH:2,1.5,0,0
  | stroke-color       = #5f5f5f
  | fill               = #808080
  | fill-opacity       = SWITCH:.5,.3,.3,.3
  | id2                = SWITCH:Q804712;Q111168;Q1439;Q30
  | type2              = shape-inverse
  | stroke-width2      = 2
  | stroke-color2      = #5F5F5F
  | stroke-opacity2    = SWITCH:1;1;1;1
  | fill2              = #808080
  | fill-opacity2      = SWITCH:0;.5;0.5;0.5
  | switch             = Balch Springs;Dallas County;Texas;the United States
 }}
 | mapsize                  = 250x200px
 | map_caption              = 
 | image_dot_map            = 
 | dot_mapsize              = 
 | dot_map_caption          = 
 | dot_x                    = 
 | dot_y                    = 
 | pushpin_map              = Texas#USA#North America
 | pushpin_label_position   = 
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Texas
 | pushpin_mapsize          = 
<!-- Location ------------------>
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name         = {{Flagicon|USA}}[[United States]]
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = {{Flagicon|Texas}}[[Texas]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas]]
 | subdivision_type3        = 
 | subdivision_name3        = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = [[Council-manager government|Council-manager]]
 | leader_title             = [[City Council]]
 | leader_name              = 
 | leader_title1            = [[City Manager]]
 | leader_name1             = 
 | established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
 | established_date         = 
 | established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
 | established_date2        = 
 | established_title3       = Incorporated
 | established_date3        = June 13, 1953
<!-- Area    --------------------->
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 23.42
 | area_land_km2            = 23.37
 | area_water_km2           = 0.05
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 9.04
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 9.02
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
 | area_water_percent       = 0.27
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = 
 | population_total         = 27685
 | population_density_km2   = auto
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CST]]
 | utc_offset               = -6
 | timezone_DST             = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CDT]]
 | utc_offset_DST           = -5
 | coordinates              = {{coord|32|43|12|N|96|37|25|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
 | elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
 | elevation_ft             = 479
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
 | postal_code              = 75180
 | area_codes               = [[Area codes 214, 469, 972, and 945|214, 469, 945, 972]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 48-05372<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 2409775<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409775}}</ref>
 | website                  = [http://www.cityofbalchsprings.com/ cityofbalchsprings.com]
 | footnotes                = 
}}

'''Balch Springs''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ɑː|l|k}} {{Respell|BAHLK}}, {{IPAc-en|b|ɑː|l|tʃ}} {{Respell|BAHLTCH}}) is a city in [[Dallas County, Texas]], United States. It is an inner-ring suburb of [[Dallas]] and part of the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]. Its population was 23,728 at the 2010 census,<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Balch Springs city, Texas |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 11, 2012 }}</ref> and 25,007 at 2019's census estimates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Balch%20Springs%20city,%20Texas&g=1600000US4805372&hidePreview=false&tid=ACSDP5Y2018.DP05&vintage=2018&cid=DP05_0001E&layer=place|title=ACS 2018 Housing and Demographic Estimates|website=data.census.gov|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>

==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 [[spring (hydrosphere)|springs]] on his land, one of which ran 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 II]].<ref name="Texas Handbook" />

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.<ref name="Texas Handbook" /> The new city encompassed the communities of Balch Springs, Zipp City, Five Points, Jonesville, and Triangle, as well as portions of [[Rylie, Dallas, Texas|Rylie]] and [[Kleberg, Dallas|Kleberg]].<ref name="Early Days">{{cite web | url = http://www.balchspringschamber.org/BalchSpringsTheEarlyDays.pdf  | title = Balch Springs: The Early Days | publisher = Balch Springs Chamber of Commerce | access-date = 2009-09-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070902061325/http://www.balchspringschamber.org/BalchSpringsTheEarlyDays.pdf |archive-date = 2007-09-02}}</ref> A mayor-council form of government was adopted after incorporation. By 1956, Balch Springs had a population 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.<ref name="Texas Handbook" /> Two years later, the 1990 census reported a total of 17,406 people living in the city. The 2000 population was 19,375.

The [[murder of Jordan Edwards]] occurred in Balch Springs in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|author=Hoyt, Joseph|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/football/2019/11/07/jordan-edwards-was-murdered-31-months-ago-the-mesquite-football-team-can-finally-honor-their-fallen-brother-on-their-own-terms/|title=Jordan Edwards was murdered 31 months ago. The Mesquite football team can finally honor their fallen brother on their own terms.|work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=2019-11-07|access-date=2019-11-08}}</ref>

==Geography==

Balch Springs is situated approximately {{convert|16|mi}} east of [[downtown Dallas]] and {{convert|34|mi}} southeast of the [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]]. The city is bordered by [[Mesquite, Texas|Mesquite]] to the north and east, and Dallas to the south and west.

Major highways running through Balch Springs include [[Interstate 635 (Texas)|Interstate 635]], which bisects the city into two nearly equal halves. [[Interstate 20 in Texas|Interstate 20]] and [[U.S. Route 175 in Texas|U.S. Highway 175]] run along Balch Springs' southern border.<ref name="Texas Handbook">{{cite web | url = https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/heb01 | title = Balch Springs, Texas | publisher = [[The Handbook of Texas]] online | access-date = 2009-09-22}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|23.3|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.06|km2|order=flip|2}}, or 0.27%, is covered by water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Balch Springs city, Texas |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 11, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1960 = 6821
| 1970 = 10464
| 1980 = 13746
| 1990 = 17406
| 2000 = 19375
| 2010 = 23728
| 2020 = 27685
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Balch Springs racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4805372&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/en.html|title=Census.gov|website=Census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|4,175
|15.08%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|6,181
|22.33%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|60
|0.22%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|277
|1.0%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|7
|0.03%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|49
|0.18%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/multiracial]] (NH)
|452
|1.63%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|16,484
|59.54%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''27,685'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], 27,685 people, 6,916 households, and 5,522 families resided in the city.

== Government ==
Balch Springs has a mayor-council form of government, with a mayor and six council members. Five of the six are elected in single-member districts, while the mayor and remaining council member are elected at-large.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Mayor & City Council {{!}} Balch Springs, TX |url=https://www.cityofbalchsprings.com/180/Mayor-City-Council |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=www.cityofbalchsprings.com}}</ref>

A city manager is appointed to serve at the pleasure of the city council. The current city manager is Charles R. Fenner,<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Manager {{!}} Balch Springs, TX |url=https://www.cityofbalchsprings.com/153/City-Manager |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=www.cityofbalchsprings.com}}</ref> serving since 2023. <!-- Needs a clearer date. -->
{| class="wikitable"
|+Current Balch Springs City Council<ref name=":0" />
!Position
!Occupant
!Term Expires
|-
|Mayor
|Rodney Taylor
|2027
|-
|Place 2 (At-Large)
|Tartisha Hill
|2026
|-
|Place 3
|Paula Garcia
|2027
|-
|Place 4
|Vincent Gabriel
|2026
|-
|Place 5
|Jessie Patino
|2027
|-
|Place 6
|Elishima Myles
|2026
|-
|Place 7
|Yemi Salau
|2027
|}

== Politics ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Balch Springs city vote
by party in Presidential elections<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dallas County, TX Elections {{!}} Elections Information |url=https://www.dallascountyvotes.org/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=www.dallascountyvotes.org}}</ref>
!Year
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2024 United States presidential election in Texas|2024]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|65.0% ''3,608''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|33.6% ''1,866''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.4% ''79''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election in Texas|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|70.1% ''4,256''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|28.6% ''1,734''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.3% ''78''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election in Texas|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|67.0% ''3,344''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|29.9% ''1,490''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.1% ''155''
|}


==Education==

===Public schools===

The southwestern portion of Balch Springs is served by [[Dallas Independent School District]], while the northeastern portion is served by [[Mesquite Independent School District]]. The two portions are roughly each one half of the city.<ref>"[http://www.cityofbalchsprings.com/PDF/Additionallinks/UpdatedCityStreetMap.pdf Updated Street Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602223002/http://www.cityofbalchsprings.com/PDF/Additionallinks/UpdatedCityStreetMap.pdf |date=2016-06-02 }}." City of Balch Springs. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref><!--See DISD and MISD attendance zones--><ref name="MISDzones">{{cite web |title=Attendance Zones - Mesquite ISD 2022 |url=https://www.mesquiteisd.org/who-we-are/attendance-zones |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=www.mesquiteisd.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Mesquite Independent School District ====
Mesquite ISD students living in Balch Springs are zoned to one of the following elementary schools, according to the following feeder patterns approved by the district in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sivilay |first=Anny |title=Feeder pattern approved |url=https://starlocalmedia.com/mesquitenews/feeder-pattern-approved/article_534829b6-b54f-11e7-9151-63d3416d83a1.html |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Star Local |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!'''<small>Elementary School (Through 5th Grade)</small>'''
!'''<small>Middle School (Grades 6–8)</small>'''
!'''<small>High School (Grades 9–12)</small>'''
|-
|<small>Floyd Elementary School (Balch Springs)</small>
| rowspan="3" |<small>A.C. New Middle School (Balch Springs)</small>
| rowspan="4" |<small>[[West Mesquite High School]] (Mesquite)</small>
|-
|<small>Gray Elementary School (Balch Springs)</small>
|-
|<small>Hodges Elementary School (Balch Springs)</small>
|-
|<small>McWhorter Elementary School (Mesquite)</small>
|<small>Frasier Middle School (Mesquite)</small>
|-
|<small>Mackey Elementary School (Balch Springs)</small>
|<small>Terry Middle School (Mesquite)</small>
| rowspan="2" |<small>[[John Horn High School]] (Mesquite)</small>
|-
|<small>Gentry Elementary School (Mesquite)</small>
|<small>Berry Middle School (Mesquite)</small>
|-
|<small>Moss Elementary School (Mesquite)</small>
|<small>Agnew Middle School (Mesquite)</small>
|<small>[[Mesquite High School (Texas)|Mesquite High School]] (Mesquite)</small> 
|}
Most Mesquite ISD students living in Balch Springs are zoned to A.C. New Middle School and West Mesquite High School. Some MISD students (in the portion zoned to Gentry) are zoned to Berry Middle School and John Horn High School. A small portion of Balch Springs (the portion zoned to Moss) is zoned to Agnew Middle School and Mesquite High School.<ref name="MISDzones" />

====Dallas Independent School District====

[[Image:Samuell HS 2007.JPG|thumb|[[W. W. Samuell High School]] serves a portion of the DISD section of Balch Springs.]]

Dallas ISD students are zoned to:
* Gilbert Cuellar Sr. Elementary School (PK–5)<ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/eszones2015/Cuellar2015.pdf 2015-16 Gilbert Cuellar Sr. Elementary Attendance Zone Grades PK-5]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref>
* Richard Lagow Elementary School (PK–5)<ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/eszones2015/Lagow2015.pdf 2015-16 Richard Lagow Elementary Attendance Zone Grades PK-5]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref>
* John W. Runyon Elementary School (PreK–5)<ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/eszones2015/Runyon2015.pdf John W. Runyon Elementary Attendance Zone Grades PK-5]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref>
* [[Kleberg, Dallas|Kleberg]] Elementary School (PreK–5)<ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/eszones2015/Kleberg2015.pdf Kleberg Elementary Attendance Zone Grades PK-5]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 8, 2016.</ref>

Young Women's STEAM Academy at Balch Springs Middle School is in the city limits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasisd.org/balchsprings|title=Home|publisher=Young Women's STEAM Academy at Balch Springs Middle School|access-date=2019-10-21|quote=710 Cheyenne Road, Dallas, TX 75217}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ago-item-storage.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/143ff56c269c44cc93bbb341c528632a/Zoning_Map.pdf|title=Zoning Map|publisher=City of Balch Springs|access-date=2019-10-21}} - [https://www.cityofbalchsprings.com/348/GIS-Mapping linked from the GIS map index]<!--to show the map is from the city government and is real--></ref> The school, which opened in 2012,<ref name="Newsch2008">"[http://www.dallasisd.org/bond2008/pdf/NewSchoolsNames.pdf New Schools-2008 Bond Program] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509063953/http://www.dallasisd.org/bond2008/pdf/NewSchoolsNames.pdf |date=2010-05-09 }}." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on January 8, 2010.</ref> previously was a coeducational middle school serving most of the DISD portion, while other portions were zoned to Fred F. Florence Middle School.<ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/midzones2015/BalchSprings2015.pdf 2015-16 Balch Springs Middle Attendance Zone Grades 6-8]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref> In the fall of 2016 Balch Springs was converted into a girls-only middle school; boys in its zone were zoned to Florence, now an all-boys school. Students from the former Balch Springs MS zone who wish to attend a coeducational middle school would go to E. B. Comstock Middle School, while those from the former Florence zone would go to Piedmont G.L.O.B.A.L. Academy (formerly John B. Hood Middle School) in [[Pleasant Grove, Dallas|Pleasant Grove]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20160602215745/http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/domain/89/schoolinfo/mszonescurrent/BalchSpringsFlorenceMS.pdf BalchSpringsFlorenceMS.pdf]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref><ref>Porter, Lawana. "[https://thehub.dallasisd.org/2016/10/12/piedmont-g-l-o-b-a-l-academy-celebrates-a-new-name-and-academic-focus/ Piedmont G.L.O.B.A.L. Academy celebrates a new name and academic focus (video)]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. October 12, 2016. Retrieved on October 16, 2016.</ref> In addition Seagoville Middle School serves both genders in a portion of Balch Springs.<ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/midzones2015/Seagoville2015.pdf 2015-16 Seagoville Middle Attendance Zone Grades 6-8]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 8, 2016.</ref>

Prior to the opening of Balch Springs MS, Comstock and Florence served portions of the city.<ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/midzones2011/Florence2011.pdf Fall 2011 Fred F. Florence Middle Attendance Zone Grades 6-8]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref><ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/midzones2011/Comstock2011.pdf Fall 2011 E.B. Comstock Middle Attendance Zone Grades 6-8]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref>

[[H. Grady Spruce High School]],<ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/highzones2015/Spruce2015.pdf 2015-166 H. Grady Spruce High School Attendance Zone Grades 9-12]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref> [[W. W. Samuell High School]],<ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/highzones2015/Samuell2015.pdf 2015-16 W. W. Samuell High School Attendance Zone Grades 9-12]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref> and [[Seagoville High School]] serve portions of the DISD area of Balch Springs.<ref>"[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/highzones2015/Seagoville2015.pdf 2015-16 Seagoville High School Attendance Zone Grades 9-12]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref>
<!-- encyclopedic?
As of 2006, some Balch Springs residents wished for the DISD portion to be rezoned into MISD.<ref>Smith, Andrew D. "[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/mesquite/stories/DN-balchsecede_04met.ART0.North.Edition1.3db6615.html Secession from DISD is sought]." ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''. December 6, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2010.</ref> -->

===Private schools===
Balch Springs Christian Academy is a private school within the city limits that serves students from kindergarten to 12th grade, and uses the [[A Beka]] curriculum. It is a subsidiary of Seagoville Road Baptist Church, which was established in 1974.<ref>[http://srbc-bsca.com/ Seagoville Road Baptist Church]</ref>  Ten members of the school and church died in a flood in central Texas in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-18-mn-716-story.html|title=10 Are Feared Dead at Texas River : 2 Youths Killed, 8 Reported Missing as Bus, Van Are Swept Into Water|first=BARRY|last=BEARAK|date=18 July 1987|access-date=22 July 2017|via=LA Times}}</ref>

===Colleges and universities===
Dallas County residents are zoned to [[Dallas College]] (formerly Dallas County Community College or DCCCD).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm|title=Education code. Chapter 130. Junior College Districts|website=statutes.capitol.texas.gov}}</ref>

==Public safety==
Balch Springs Fire Department serves the city with one fire station, which runs one ladder truck, two engines, one fire chief, and three battalion chiefs. The department has a minimum manning of eight firefighters on shift 24/7. All firefighters are certified as EMTs or paramedics. Balch Springs has 30 professional firefighters, one chief, and an inspector. The Balch Springs Fire Department is a civil-service department. The department responds and manages all fire and emergent health calls.{{Citation needed|date=May 2017}}

The city maintains a police department.<ref>{{cite web|title=Balch Springs Police Department|url=http://balchspringspd.com/|publisher=Balch Springs Police Department|access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref>

==Library==
The Balch Springs Library-Learning Center is located at 12450 Elam Road in Balch Springs.<ref>"[http://www.cityofbalchsprings.com/departments/Library/publiclibrary.htm Public Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919045621/http://cityofbalchsprings.com/departments/Library/publiclibrary.htm |date=2010-09-19 }}." City of Balch Springs. Retrieved on January 8, 2010.</ref> The library, which has over 26,000 items, including over 25,000 books and over 1,000 audio and visual items, opened in April 2006.<ref>"[http://www.balchspringslibrary.org/about-us Who We Are]." Balch Springs Public Library. Retrieved on January 8, 2010.</ref>

==Healthcare==
Dallas ISD and [[Parkland Hospital|Parkland]] Balch Springs Youth and Family Health Center is on a site next to the Balch Springs Middle School building,<ref name=Jacobson>{{cite web|author=Jacobson, Sherry|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2013/05/01/balch-springs-to-get-new-parkland-youth-and-family-health-center/|title=Balch Springs to get new Parkland youth and family health center|work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=2013-05-02|access-date=2019-10-21}}</ref> on the school property.<ref name=Cummings>{{cite web|author=Cummings, Tommy|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2013/05/28/health-center-will-move-to-balch-springs-middle-school-campus/|title=Health center will move to Balch Springs Middle School campus|work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=2013-05-28|access-date=2019-10-21}}</ref><ref>The school and the center have the same address: {{cite web|url=https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/1437|title=Balch Springs Youth & Family Center|publisher=[[Dallas Independent School District]]|access-date=2019-10-21|quote=Balch Springs Youth & Family Center is located at Young Women's STEAM Academy @ Balch Springs[...]710 Cheyenne Road Dallas, TX 75217}} // Instances of "701 Cheyenne" seem to be errors.</ref> It serves disadvantaged children who do not have primary care physicians.<ref name=Jacobson/> Previously, the center was known as the Spruce Youth and Family Health Center and was housed on the grounds of [[H. Grady Spruce High School]] in Dallas. On June 3, 2013, it moved to its current location.<ref name=Cummings/>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.cityofbalchsprings.com/ City of Balch Springs official website]

{{Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex}}
{{Dallas County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Dallas County, Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1953]]