Spring Valley, Texas, in Harris County, is now “Spring Valley Village” following a name change in 2007. Spring Valley is north of Interstate Highway 10 and U.S. Highway 90, and three miles west of Interstate 610, at the edge of Houston proper, in west central Harris County. This 1.3-square-mile land parcel shows up on 1936 maps with a church and a cemetery. Population now is 3,611 (2000 U.S. Census).
An initial failure to incorporate as the city of Spring Branch spurred a second, successful attempt in 1955 as Spring Valley. Incorporation was needed to establish and maintain a primarily residential community. This desire is reflected in the community’s early adoption of strict zoning and subdivision ordinances that limited building construction permits to one-family, one-story dwellings. In 1981, two-story houses were permitted for the first time.
Spring Valley, Texas, residents’ strong desire for police, fire, and emergency ambulance services provided even more reasons for incorporation. This is evident in the personal services and attention to detail that are demonstrated in the Spring Valley Police Department’s stickers to identify residents’ vehicles. The Village Fire and EMS Department serves all six of the surrounding villages, covering an area of nine square miles and a population of about 20,000 people.
Spring Valley, TX, is part of the Spring Branch Independent School District. One of the districts’ two high schools, Spring Branch School of Choice (formerly Spring Branch High School) is in Spring Valley Village, as is one of the pre-K and K schools, The Bear Boulevard School.
The City of Spring Valley Village is served by its own City of Spring Valley Municipal Court system. Municipal Court handles traffic matters, Class C Misdemeanors, and violations of City Ordinances. Spring Valley is served by a presiding judge and three associate judges, as well as a chief prosecutor and four associate prosecutors. Municipal Court is located inside City Hall at 1025 Campbell Road.
Spring Valley, TX, Municipal Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the Harris County Justice of the Peace Court, providing services such as Class C misdemeanor criminal cases, where the punishment upon conviction is usually a small fine. The court also has jurisdiction over minor civil matters such as landlord-tenant disputes.
Spring Valley, TX, uses the services of the Harris County Criminal Courts at Law for criminal cases, including DUI & DWI offenses. The Harris County Civil Courts at Law hear civil trial court matters and other litigation such as vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, defective product issues, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death claims, and other personal injury claims, as well as DUI & DWI offenses. Appeals of court decisions are handled by the two nearby State Appeals Courts in Houston or the Texas Supreme Court in Austin.
