Balch Springs, Texas

Balch Springs (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell, Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) 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">Template:Cite web</ref> and 25,007 at 2019's census estimates.<ref>Template:Cite web</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 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 and Kleberg.<ref name="Early Days">Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

Balch Springs is situated approximately Template:Convert east of downtown Dallas and Template:Convert 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.<ref name="Texas Handbook">Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or 0.27%, is covered by water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

Balch Springs racial composition as of 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
(NH = Non-Hispanic)Template:Efn

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	4,175	15.08%
Black or African American (NH)	6,181	22.33%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	60	0.22%
Asian (NH)	277	1.0%
Pacific Islander (NH)	7	0.03%
Some other race (NH)	49	0.18%
Mixed/multiracial (NH)	452	1.63%
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">Template:Cite web</ref>

A city manager is appointed to serve at the pleasure of the city council. The current city manager is Charles R. Fenner,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> serving since 2023.

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

Balch Springs city vote by party in Presidential elections<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Year	Democratic	Republican	Third Parties
align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2024	align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|65.0% 3,608	align="center" Template:Party shading/Republican|33.6% 1,866	align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|1.4% 79
align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2020	align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|70.1% 4,256	align="center" Template:Party shading/Republican|28.6% 1,734	align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|1.3% 78
align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2016	align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|67.0% 3,344	align="center" Template:Party shading/Republican|29.9% 1,490	align="center" Template: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>"Updated Street Map Template:Webarchive." City of Balch Springs. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref><ref name="MISDzones">Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Elementary School (Through 5th Grade)	Middle School (Grades 6–8)	High School (Grades 9–12)
Floyd Elementary School (Balch Springs)	A.C. New Middle School (Balch Springs)	West Mesquite High School (Mesquite)
Gray Elementary School (Balch Springs)
Hodges Elementary School (Balch Springs)
McWhorter Elementary School (Mesquite)	Frasier Middle School (Mesquite)
Mackey Elementary School (Balch Springs)	Terry Middle School (Mesquite)	John Horn High School (Mesquite)
Gentry Elementary School (Mesquite)	Berry Middle School (Mesquite)
Moss Elementary School (Mesquite)	Agnew Middle School (Mesquite)	Mesquite High School (Mesquite)

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

File:Samuell HS 2007.JPG

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>"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>"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>"John W. Runyon Elementary Attendance Zone Grades PK-5." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref>
• Kleberg Elementary School (PreK–5)<ref>"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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web - linked from the GIS map index</ref> The school, which opened in 2012,<ref name="Newsch2008">"New Schools-2008 Bond Program Template:Webarchive." 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>"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.<ref>"BalchSpringsFlorenceMS.pdf." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref><ref>Porter, Lawana. "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>"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>"Fall 2011 Fred F. Florence Middle Attendance Zone Grades 6-8." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</ref><ref>"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>"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>"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>"2015-16 Seagoville High School Attendance Zone Grades 9-12." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on June 3, 2016.</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>Seagoville Road Baptist Church</ref> Ten members of the school and church died in a flood in central Texas in 1987.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Colleges and universities

Dallas County residents are zoned to Dallas College (formerly Dallas County Community College or DCCCD).<ref>Template:Cite web</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.Template:Citation needed

The city maintains a police department.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Library

The Balch Springs Library-Learning Center is located at 12450 Elam Road in Balch Springs.<ref>"Public Library Template:Webarchive." 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>"Who We Are." Balch Springs Public Library. Retrieved on January 8, 2010.</ref>

Healthcare

Dallas ISD and Parkland Balch Springs Youth and Family Health Center is on a site next to the Balch Springs Middle School building,<ref name=Jacobson>Template:Cite web</ref> on the school property.<ref name=Cummings>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>The school and the center have the same address: Template:Cite web // 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/>

External links

• City of Balch Springs official website