Oak Forest, Houston facts for kids
Oak Forest is a big neighborhood in northwest Houston, Texas, United States. It's one of the largest groups of neighborhoods in Harris County.
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History of Oak Forest
The area that became Oak Forest was added to the City of Houston in the 1940s. Oak Forest was started in 1947 by a company called Oak Forest Realty Corporation. This company was owned by Frank Sharp, who also created another neighborhood called Sharpstown later on.
The first house built in Oak Forest was used as a sales office. It was located at the corner of Golf and Fisher Drive. Most of the first houses were sold to soldiers who had returned from World War II. These houses cost about $8,000 to $10,000. One of the first people to buy a house there, Ruth Metzger, bought hers in April 1947 and lived there for many years.
Many of the first families who moved to Oak Forest came from farms west of Houston. They often had Polish Texan and Czech Texan backgrounds.
When Oak Forest first started, there was no phone service. People had to use a phone in a construction office or at Frank Sharp's niece's house if they needed to make a call. Phone service finally arrived in the middle of 1948.
Enough land was set aside in Oak Forest for churches, parks, and schools. Areas were also planned for stores and businesses. This is why you can find many grocery stores and other shops along West 43rd Street.
Originally, part of Oak Forest was in a different school district. But in 1958, it became part of the Houston Independent School District. Oak Forest Elementary School was built in 1951. Later, Black Junior High School opened in 1958, and Waltrip High School started classes in 1960. Stevens Elementary was added as more families moved into the area.
Oak Forest became part of the City of Houston around 1949. Today, there are thousands of homes in Oak Forest, with over 23,000 people living there.
Starting around 2000, Oak Forest began to attract "creative types" and families. These people wanted to live in a nice area but found other neighborhoods like Houston Heights too expensive.
Between 2005 and 2011, the number of houses sold in Oak Forest grew by about 5.8% each year. In 2010, a local newspaper called the Houston Press named Oak Forest one of the "Five Most Underrated Neighborhoods In Houston."
In 2011, a real estate expert said that Oak Forest was becoming like a "new West University" or a "mini Bellaire, but with better prices." By 2013, many families were choosing to move into Oak Forest and the nearby Garden Oaks neighborhood.
What Oak Forest Looks Like
Oak Forest is located in northwest Houston. It's north of the 610 Loop highway and east of U.S. Route 290. It's also near West 43rd Street, between T. C. Jester and Interstate 45.
One expert said that Oak Forest is like a smaller version of Garden Oaks, offering similar benefits but at lower prices. He also noted that if the main highways are busy, there are many other ways to get around. In 2011, another real estate owner mentioned that Oak Forest has a good central location in Houston and large property lots, while still being affordable.
As of 2011, Oak Forest had 5,480 houses. The first houses built were in the style of the 1950s. Many homeowners have chosen to tear down these older houses to build new, larger homes, often around 3,000 square feet. Others prefer to remodel and update their existing older houses.
Education in Oak Forest
Public Schools
The public schools in Oak Forest are run by the Houston Independent School District.
Elementary schools that serve the Oak Forest area include:
- Oak Forest Elementary School
- Garden Oaks Elementary School
- Katherine Smith Elementary School
- Stevens Elementary School
- Benbrook Elementary School
- Wainwright Elementary School
Many families choose to move to Oak Forest because Oak Forest Elementary is considered a top-rated school.
For middle school, parts of eastern Oak Forest go to Frank Black Middle School. Parts of western Oak Forest go to Clifton Middle School. Both Oak Forest Elementary and Frank M. Black Middle School are located on the same property in Oak Forest.
For high school, students in eastern Oak Forest attend Waltrip High School. Students in western Oak Forest attend Scarborough High School.
Private Schools
St. Rose of Lima Catholic School is a private school connected to the church of the same name. Some people say it is still a very important part of the neighborhood.
Public Libraries
The Houston Public Library has two branches near Oak Forest. The Oak Forest Neighborhood Library is located at 1349 West 43rd Street. The Collier Regional Library is at 6200 Pinemont Drive. The Oak Forest Library is in the first section of the neighborhood.
Media
The local weekly newspaper called The Leader is delivered to homes in Oak Forest. The Houston Chronicle is the main citywide newspaper for Houston.
Parks and Recreation
Oak Forest has several parks and community centers for fun activities. Oak Forest Park is located at 2100 Judiway. Candlelight Community Center and Park is at 1520 Candlelight. It has an indoor gym, a playground, a lighted sports field, and a trail for walking and biking that is almost half a mile long. T.C. Jester Park is at 4201 TC Jester, West.
The Northwest Branch YMCA is the closest YMCA to the Oak Forest neighborhood.
Notable Residents
Some well-known people who have lived in Oak Forest include:
- Patrick Swayze (a famous actor)
- Lyle deLaunay
