Initially a farming community supported by crops including sugar cane and cotton, Spring was platted by the Houston & Great Northern Railroad in 1873, and that same year Callahan Pickette became the town's first postmaster. In its early years, Spring served as a commercial center for the surrounding area and was also a focal point for German settlers, including Carl Wunsche, who was prominent in the town's development, leaving the area with a strong German heritage. A new rail line reached Spring in the early 20th century and, with a roundhouse and railway shops, the town grew in importance as a rail center. Developer R.L. Robinson subdivided land south of the original town, and the commercial area shifted to accommodate the rail junction. The railroads facilitated the development of the lumber industry, and Spring had a number of mills, both large and small, during the boom era of lumber production. With the boom came new businesses, including hotels, saloons, an opera house, gambling houses, a hospital, and a bank. In 1907, residents established the Spring Independent School District. The loss of the roundhouse and the onset of Prohibition led to population decline, and the saloons, hotels, and other rail-supported businesses closed in the 1920s. The community persisted, creating a volunteer fire department in the 1950s and sustaining its school district, which integrated in the mid-1960s. As the population began to grow again in the early 1970s, new businesses opened, including many specialty shops. With its proximity to a growing urban center and as an area commercial center itself, Spring continues to attract new residents and businesses while retaining its unique identity and link to its early history.