Windsor Village, Houston facts for kids

Windsor Village is a neighborhood located in Houston, a big city in the U.S. state of Texas. It's known for being home to the Windsor Village United Methodist Church. The name "Windsor Village" was chosen in the late 1950s and early 1960s because people liked names that sounded like they came from the United Kingdom.

History of Windsor Village

Windsor Village was built and grew mostly during the 1950s and 1960s. A writer from the Houston Chronicle newspaper mentioned that about 30 years before 2003, the area felt quite far away from the city center. At that time, it was mainly a neighborhood for White families. Later, the first Black families started moving into the community.

Around 2006, some studies were done by the University of Houston and the City of Houston. These studies showed that the area around the Windsor Village United Methodist Church needed more businesses, community services, and helpful facilities.

Where is Windsor Village?

Windsor Village is located off South Post Oak Road, close to where South Post Oak and West Orem roads meet. It has clear boundaries: Darlinghurst Drive to the north, Tiffany Drive to the south, Altair Way to the east, and Warkworth Drive to the west. Another neighborhood called Corinthian Pointe is just north of Windsor Village.

The community is situated between two major highways, Interstate 610 and Beltway 8. It is about 15 miles (24 km) away from Downtown Houston, which is the city's main business area.

What Windsor Village Looks Like

Windsor Village features many large brick houses, often built in the ranch style. These homes usually have big lawns. The Houston Chronicle once described the houses and lawns as giving the community a "comfortable sofa feel." The neighborhood also has many trees, including both tall pine trees and tropical palm trees.

People of Windsor Village

In 2003, most of the people living in Windsor Village were African-American. They were typically middle-aged and had a middle income. At that time, about 20% of the community was made up of younger Hispanic families who had recently moved in, along with older White residents.

In the larger area around the Windsor Village United Methodist Church, about one-third of the adults had not finished high school.

Community Life and Culture

The Windsor Village United Methodist Church is a very important part of the community. It was led by Kirbyjon Caldwell. In the year 2000, this church was the largest Methodist church in the entire United States, with 13,498 members. By 2006, it was also known as one of the biggest Black churches in the U.S. In 2003, about 6,000 people attended services every Sunday morning or Saturday evening.

People in the neighborhood have different opinions about the church's impact. Some residents feel that the church mainly causes traffic. Others believe the church has always been a positive influence. They point out that its development group, Pyramid Community Development Corp., has helped improve the neighborhood.

Schools in Windsor Village

Windsor Village is part of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), which manages public schools in the area.

Most of the neighborhood's children attend Windsor Village Elementary School. In 1976, this school started a special "Vanguard program" for gifted students. By 1992, the Vanguard program had a mix of students from different backgrounds. However, the students from the local neighborhood were mostly African-American and from lower-income families.

At that time, parents of the neighborhood students felt that their children were being treated differently and receiving fewer services. The principal worked to bring the two groups of students closer together. By the spring of 1993, Vanguard and neighborhood classrooms were placed next to each other. In 2007, Windsor Village Elementary had 726 students.

A small part of Windsor Village is zoned to Jean Hines-Caldwell Elementary School, which is located in Corinthian Pointe. All students in Windsor Village attend Dowling Middle School and Madison High School. Also, a special HISD charter school called Leader's Academy High School for Business and Academic Success is located on the property of the Windsor Village United Methodist Church.

School Buildings and History

The main building of Windsor Village Elementary School was finished in 1960. A second part was added four years later. Like the neighborhood, the school's name also reflected the popular British style of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Madison High School opened in 1965, and Dowling Middle School was built in 1968. Before Hines-Caldwell Elementary opened, Windsor Village Elementary served all the children in the neighborhood. Hines-Caldwell opened its doors in the fall of 2005.

The Imani School, which is a private Christian school, started in 1988 within the Windsor Village Church complex. This school is now located in the Power Center, a different complex outside of Windsor Village that was completed in 1995.

Parks and Fun Activities

Windsor Village has its own public park and community center, which are managed by the city. These facilities are right next to Windsor Village Elementary School. In 2005, the community planned to spend $1 million to improve this complex.

Besides the community center building, the park offers many things to do. It has an outdoor basketball court with a roof, tennis courts with lights for playing at night, a lighted sports field, and a playground for kids.