See photos of Spring Branch in the 1950s through the 1980s

Un Kyong Kim makes her way along Long Point in Spring Branch in 1991. (Steve Campbell/Houston Chronicle) Un Kyong Kim makes her way along Long Point in Spring Branch in 1991. (Steve Campbell/Houston Chronicle) Photo: Steve Campbell/Houston Chronicle Photo: Steve Campbell/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 50 Caption Close See photos of Spring Branch in the 1950s through the 1980s 1 / 50 Back to Gallery

Spring Branch is one of those suburbs that is practically the big city to suburbanites who live farther out, in places like Pearland or The Woodlands.

Now a district of the City of Houston, the area surrounded by Interstate 10, Loop 610, Beltway 8 and Hempstead Road was settled by German farmers in the 1800s.

The farmers also operated sawmills and built St. Peter's United Church, where the Spring Branch School District originated as the Spring Branch School Society in 1856, according to the Handbook of Texas online.

Many of the roads in this area, such as Gessner Road and Hillendahl Road, were named after the German farmers.

Spring Branch attempted to incorporate in the 1950s, but failed. The surrounding Memorial villages, however were successful, becoming Spring Valley Village, Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hedwig Village, Hilshire Village and Hunters Creek Village.

Spring Branch was one of Houston's hottest suburban areas in the 1950s, where families snapped up ranch style houses and got together at the Spring Branch Memorial Drive Dad's Club on Voss Road, the Houston Chronicle reported in 2012.

Check out the Houston Chronicle's file photos above of Spring Branch in its early days, and share your memories in the comments.