Oak Forest, Houston

Coordinates: 29°49′41″N 95°25′31″W / 29.82806°N 95.42528°W / 29.82806; -95.42528

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Oak Forest marker

Oak Forest Branch Houston Public Library

Oak Forest is a large residential community in northwest Houston, Texas, United States. Oak Forest is the third largest group of subdivisions in Harris County.^[1]

History

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Oak Forest was established in 1947 by Oak Forest Realty Corporation, owned by Frank Sharp, a developer who would later establish Sharpstown. Oak Forest Realty Corporation built houses only in Section 1 (Golf Dr. to Oak Forest Dr. and Dubarry to West 43rd Street). Sharp would later develop the neighborhood for 17 additional sections by building streets and installing utility lines, but left the home construction to other contractors.

The first house, which served as a sales office, was built at the corner of Golf and Fisher Dr. Almost all of the first houses were sold to World War II veterans for $8,000-$10,000. One of the original homeowners, Ruth Metzger, bought her house in April 1947 when it was only a slab and still lives there to this day.

Originally, there was no telephone service. If a homeowner needed to place a call, they had to use one in the construction shack on the corner of Wakefield and Kinley Lane or one in the house of Frank Sharp’s niece on Wakefield. Telephone service finally arrived in the middle of 1948.

Sufficient acreage in Oak Forest was set aside for churches, parks and schools. Areas were also reserved for commercial development and this accounts for the many grocery stores, cleaners, service stations, etc., which are located along W. 43rd St. between Ella Blvd. and Oak Forest Dr.

When it was first established, Oak Forest was a golf course and a part of the Aldine Independent School District. The land was ceded to Houston ISD. The original Oak Forest Elementary was built in 1951, followed by Black Junior High School in 1958 and construction on Waltrip High School began in 1959 with the first classes held in the fall of 1960. Stevens Elementary was added as the area grew beyond the capacity of one elementary school.

Oak Forest was originally an unincorporated area in Harris County. It was annexed by the City of Houston about 1949. Sixty years later, there are 5,523 homes in Oak Forest with a population of over 23,000. Oak Forest is the third largest area after the annexation of Kingwood and continues to improve gracefully with age.

Jennifer Latson of the Houston Chronicle said that the murder of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Peña in 1993 "shook" Oak Forest "to its foundation." T.C. Jester Park has a memorial to the girls.^[2] In addition Waltrip High School has a memorial to the girls, as they were students at the school.^[3]

In February 2009 some Oak Forest residents reported increased burglaries and thefts.^[4]

Notable former residents include Patrick Swayze.^[5]

Government and infrastructure

Local government

Almost all of Oak Forest is located in Houston City Council District C.^[6][7] A small portion is in council district A.^[8][7]

The Houston Fire Department operates Station 13 Oak Forest at 2215 West 43rd Street; Station 13 is part of Fire District 31.^[9]

Houston Fire Station 13, 1976

Fire Station 13, 1950

The area is within the Houston Police Department's North Patrol Division with headquarters at 9455 West Montgomery Road. The Near North Storefront is located at 1335 West 43rd Street.^[10][11]

County, federal, and state representation

Oak Forest is within Harris County Precinct 4.^[12] As of 2008 Jerry Eversole heads the precinct.^[13] Harris County Hospital District operates the Northwest Health Center at 1100 West 34th Street.^[14]

The United States Postal Service Oak Forest Post Office is located at 2499 Judiway Street.^[15]

Education

Primary and secondary education

Public schools

Frank Black Middle School

Oak Forest Elementary School

Oak Forest's public schools are operated by Houston Independent School District. The community is divided between Trustee District I, represented by Natasha M. Kamrani as of 2008, and Trustee District VII, represented by Harvin C. Moore as of 2008.^[16]

Elementary schools that serve Oak Forest include:^[7]

• Oak Forest Elementary School^[17]
• Garden Oaks Elementary School^[18]
• Kate Smith Elementary School^[19]
• Stevens Elementary School^[20]
• Benbrook Elementary School^[21]
• Wainwright Elementary School^[22]

Parts of Oak Forest in the east are served by Frank Black Middle School,^[23] while parts of Oak Forest in the west are served by Clifton Middle School.^[24]

Parts of Oak Forest in the east are served by Waltrip High School,^[25] while parts of Oak Forest in the west are served by Scarborough High School.^[26]

Public libraries

Houston Public Library operates the Oak Forest Neighborhood Library at 1349 West 43rd Street and the Collier Regional Library at 6200 Pinemont Drive.^[27][28]

Parks and recreation

Oak Forest Park

Candlelight Community Center and Park is at 1520 Candlelight. It has an indoor gymnasium, a playground, a lighted sports field, and a .45 mile hike and bicycle trail.^[29] Oak Forest Park is located at 2100 Judiway.^[30] T.C. Jester Park is located at 4201 TC Jester, West.^[30]

The Northwest Branch YMCA is the closest YMCA to Oak Forest.^{[citation needed]}

Notable residents

• Patrick Swayze^[31]

See also

Houston portal

References

External links

• Oak Forest Homeowner's Association
• Northwest Corner

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