Hilshire Village, the smallest and one of the most charming of the Memorial Villages, is nestled in the wooded area north of I-10 and west of Wirt Road. The ravines, rolling terrain and beautiful trees are part of what gives Hilshire its special beauty. But the most important element is its residents. With fewer than 300 families comprising a tightly knit, caring community, Hilshire truly has a friendly, small-town atmosphere.

Starting out as a rural area with dirt roads and farm animals around 1950, Hilshire Village was incorporated in 1955. An interesting tidbit from its history is the zoning ordinance passed in 1957, limiting owners to not more than two horses per lot.

Present day Hilshire Village is governed by a mayor and five council members. There is also a very active civic club. Hilshire Village contracts with the Spring Valley Police Department and the Village Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services. Water and sewer services are from the City of Houston. Children attend highly acclaimed schools in the Spring Branch Independent School District.

Many of the original homes are ranch-style or flat-roofed contemporary, set on large sprawling or rolling ravine lots. In recent years, most of these have been remodeled and added onto or have been torn down and removed to make way for new construction. Homes sell from the mid $300,000s to the $800,000s, with some tear-downs at the lower end of the spectrum.

Visiting Hilshire Village around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. on any given day, one is amazed at the number of people out walking, running, riding bicycles and having a neighborly chat. It's refreshing to know that the old fashioned concept of the small town neighborhood continues to thrive in the middle of one of the largest urban areas in the country.