{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Texas, US}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Valley Spring, Texas |official_name = |settlement_type = Unincorporated community |nickname = |motto =
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<!-- Location --> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = Texas |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Llano
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<!-- General information --> |timezone = Central (CST) |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 1312 |coordinates = {{coord|30|51|34|N|98|49|02|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes & others --> |postal_code_type = ZIP codes |postal_code = 76885 |area_code = |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 1380705<ref name=gnis/> |website = |footnotes = }} '''Valley Spring''' is an unincorporated community in Llano County, Texas, United States.<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1380705}}</ref> According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 50 in 2000.<ref name="Texas Handbook">{{cite web | url = http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hnv03 | title = Valley Spring, Texas | publisher = The Handbook of Texas online | access-date = 2009-10-24}}</ref> Valley Spring is situated along State Highway 71 in northwestern Llano County, approximately 12 miles northwest of Llano.<ref name="Texas Escapes">{{cite web | url = http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/Valley-Spring-Texas.htm | title = Valley Spring, Texas | publisher = Texas Escapes Online Magazine | access-date = 2009-10-24}}</ref>
==History== The area was originally settled by the O.C.J. Phillips family in 1854 and was known as Phillips Ranch in the early years. Phillips son, W.O., established a cotton gin and sawmill on the ranch in 1860. Locals started referring to the community as Whistleville after the mill's summoning work whistle.<ref name="Texas Escapes"/> Less than a mile from Whistleville, Davie Owen opened a competing mill and gin. The community surrounding Owen's mill was known as Bugscuffle. When a post office was established in 1878, it was located at the Bugscuffle establishment, which was renamed Valley Spring<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.affordablemoversus.com/Movers/Zip_Code/Moving-Company-in-76885.php| title=Valley Spring, TX Relocation Process|publisher=Valley Spring Movers US|date=2010-01-21}}</ref> after the area's terrain and numerous springs.<ref name="Texas Handbook"/> Four years later, the stage route from Llano to Brady was changed in 1882 and Mr. Owen built a store on the new route at the present-day site of Valley Spring.
The population had reached 100 by the 1930s, but had declined to 50 by the late 1960s. It remained at level through 2000.<ref name="Texas Handbook"/> Valley Spring has a post office with the ZIP code 76885.<ref>[https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?citybyzipcode USPS – Cities by ZIP Code]</ref>
==Education== Public education in the community of Valley Spring is provided by the Llano Independent School District. Zoned campuses include [http://www.llano.k12.tx.us/metadot/index.pl?id=2301&isa=Category&op=show Llano Elementary School] (grades PK-5), [http://www.llano.k12.tx.us/metadot/index.pl?id=2304&isa=Category&op=show Llano Junior High School] (grades 6-8), and Llano High School [http://www.llano.k12.tx.us/metadot/index.pl?id=2305&isa=Category&op=show] (grades 9-12).
==Notable people== * James Fields Smathers (1888-1967), inventor of the electric typewriter
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Llano County, Texas}}
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Category:Unincorporated communities in Llano County, Texas Category:Unincorporated communities in Texas Category:1854 establishments in Texas Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1854