Balch Springs, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Balch Springs
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| City of Balch Springs | |
 Balch Springs
Location in Texas
Balch Springs
Location in the United States
Balch Springs
Location in North America
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Dallas |
| Incorporated | June 13, 1953 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.04 sq mi (23.42 km2) |
| • Land | 9.02 sq mi (23.37 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) 0.27% |
| Elevation | 479 ft (146 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 27,685 |
| • Density | 3,062.5/sq mi (1,182.11/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
75180
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| Area codes | 214, 469, 945, 972 |
| FIPS code | 48-05372 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409775 |
| Website | cityofbalchsprings.com |
Balch Springs (/bɑːlk/ bahlk, /bɑːltʃ/ bahltch) is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. It is a close-by suburb of Dallas and part of the big Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area. In 2020, about 27,685 people lived there.
Contents
History of Balch Springs
The area that is now Balch Springs was first settled in the 1840s. Around 1879, a man named John M. Balch and his family moved there. Mr. Balch found several natural springs on his land. One of these springs flowed all year long!
Local people started calling the springs on Mr. Balch's property "Balch Springs." This name stuck even after he moved away a few years later. Around 1885, a local school was named after the springs. There was also a small church and a cemetery nearby.
In the early 1900s, the community was mostly made up of farms spread far apart. Electricity came to the area in 1939. Gas and telephone services arrived after World War II.
The community started to grow quickly, just like Dallas and other nearby towns. To avoid being taken over by Dallas, Balch Springs officially became a city on June 13, 1953. The new city included several smaller communities like Zipp City and Five Points.
After becoming a city, Balch Springs adopted a mayor-council type of government. By 1956, about 3,500 people lived there. The population grew to 6,821 by 1960. A post office opened in 1964, and the city started collecting taxes in 1965.
By 1970, the population had reached 10,464. This was because new roads made it easier for people to travel to jobs in other cities. In 1988, people voted to join the nearby city of Mesquite, but that vote was later canceled. By 1990, the city had 17,406 residents, and by 2000, it had 19,375.
Geography of Balch Springs
Balch Springs is located about 16 miles (26 km) east of downtown Dallas. It is also about 34 miles (55 km) southeast of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The city shares its borders with Mesquite to the north and east. It borders Dallas to the south and west.
Important highways run through Balch Springs. Interstate 635 cuts the city into two almost equal parts. Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 175 run along the southern edge of Balch Springs.
The city covers a total area of about 9.0 square miles (23.3 km²). Only a very small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.06 km²), is covered by water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 6,821 | — | |
| 1970 | 10,464 | 53.4% | |
| 1980 | 13,746 | 31.4% | |
| 1990 | 17,406 | 26.6% | |
| 2000 | 19,375 | 11.3% | |
| 2010 | 23,728 | 22.5% | |
| 2020 | 27,685 | 16.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Balch Springs has grown a lot over the years. In 1960, there were 6,821 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 27,685 people.
| 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, there were 27,685 people living in Balch Springs. These people lived in 6,916 households, and 5,522 of those were families.
Education in Balch Springs
Balch Springs has public schools served by two different school districts. The southwestern part of the city is part of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). The northeastern part is served by the Mesquite Independent School District (MISD). Each district covers about half of the city.
Mesquite Independent School District
Students in the Mesquite ISD part of Balch Springs go to specific elementary, middle, and high schools. Here's how the schools are generally set up:
| 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 MISD students in Balch Springs attend A.C. New Middle School and West Mesquite High School. Some students go to Berry Middle School and John Horn High School. A small number of students attend Agnew Middle School and Mesquite High School.
Dallas Independent School District
Dallas ISD students in Balch Springs are assigned to these elementary schools:
- Gilbert Cuellar Sr. Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade)
- Richard Lagow Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade)
- John W. Runyon Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade)
- Kleberg Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade)
The Young Women's STEAM Academy at Balch Springs Middle School is located in the city. This school opened in 2012. In 2016, it became a middle school only for girls. Boys in its area now go to Fred F. Florence Middle School, which is an all-boys school. Students who want a school for both genders can attend E. B. Comstock Middle School or Piedmont G.L.O.B.A.L. Academy. Seagoville Middle School also serves both boys and girls in another part of Balch Springs.
Before Balch Springs Middle School opened, Comstock and Florence middle schools served parts of the city.
For high school, students in the DISD area of Balch Springs attend H. Grady Spruce High School, W. W. Samuell High School, or Seagoville High School.
Private Schools
Balch Springs Christian Academy is a private school in the city. It teaches students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This school is part of Seagoville Road Baptist Church, which started in 1974.
Colleges and Universities
Residents of Dallas County, including Balch Springs, can attend Dallas College. This college used to be known as Dallas County Community College.
Library
The Balch Springs Library-Learning Center is a great place to find books and other learning materials. It is located at 12450 Elam Road in Balch Springs. The library opened in April 2006 and has over 26,000 items, including more than 25,000 books.
Healthcare
The Dallas ISD and Parkland Balch Springs Youth and Family Health Center is next to the Balch Springs Middle School. This center helps children who might not have a regular doctor. It moved to its current spot in 2013.
See also
In Spanish: Balch Springs para niños
