Official Name: | Horizon City, Texas |
Settlement Type: | City |
Mapsize: | 250px |
Image Map1: | ElPaso County HorizonCity.svg |
Mapsize1: | 250px |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Texas |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | El Paso |
Government Type: | Mayor-council |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Established Title: | Founded |
Established Date: | 1962 |
Established Title1: | Incorporated |
Established Date1: | October 22, 1988 |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Area Footnotes: | [1] |
Area Total Km2: | 22.58 |
Area Land Km2: | 22.57 |
Area Water Km2: | 0.01 |
Area Total Sq Mi: | 8.72 |
Area Land Sq Mi: | 8.71 |
Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.01 |
Population As Of: | 2020 |
Population Total: | 22489 |
Population Density Km2: | 870.30 |
Population Density Sq Mi: | 2254.07 |
Timezone: | Mountain (MST) |
Utc Offset: | -7 |
Timezone Dst: | MDT |
Utc Offset Dst: | -6 |
Elevation Ft: | 4026 |
Coordinates: | 31.68°N -106.1903°W |
Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
Postal Code: | 79927-79928 |
Area Code: | 915 |
Blank Name: | FIPS code |
Blank Info: | 48-34832[2] |
Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
Blank1 Info: | 2410793 |
Population Demonym: | Horizonite |
Horizon City is a city in El Paso County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, its population was 22,489, reflecting an increase of 5,754 from the 16,735 counted in the 2010 Census.[3]
The city, incorporated by referendum on October 22, 1988,[4] [5] takes its name from the real-estate development corporation that developed it as a planned community beginning in the early 1960s, the Horizon Corporation. The Horizon Corporation bought up large tracts of land in the southwestern United States, including eastern El Paso County, platted them into subdivisions, and sold lots in them to thousands of people worldwide, often sight unseen, often without access to water or utilities and using questionable sales tactics, between 1962 and 1975. Eventually, the Federal Trade Commission stepped in to stop it in 1981.[6] [7] Only one portion of the development was successful, the area around the intersection of Horizon Boulevard (Farm to Market Road 1281) and Kenazo Street; this became the nucleus of Horizon City.
Much of the land to the east of town consists of undeveloped subdivisions with highly fragmented ownership. The lots in these subdivisions cannot be legally sold and will be difficult to develop due to the 1994 Texas Colonia Act, a state law intended to stop the development of colonias, or neighborhoods underserved by utilities whose residents often live in substandard conditions. It forbids the sale for residential purposes of less than 10 acres of land or the sale of more than 10 acres of land without a guarantee of adequate access to water, sewer services and other utilities. Efforts are currently underway by a local homeowners' association, the Horizon Communities Improvement Association, to assemble these lots into tracts of land that can be legally developed.[6] [8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.6km2, all land.[3]
The mayor of Horizon City is Ruben Mendoza. The legislative and governing body of the City consists of a Mayor and seven Council Members. The Mayor and council are elected to four-year terms. The next election for Mayor and Council Members for places 3, 5, and 7 will be in May 2023; the election for Council Members for places 1, 2, 4, and 6 will be in May 2025. The current city council members of Horizon City are Walter Miller, Scott Quiroz, Charlie Ortega, Andres (Andy) Renteria, Johnny "Doc" Duran, Rafael (Ralph) Padilla Jr., and Samantha S. Corral.[9]
Horizon City formed an economic development corporation in 2011. The corporation has the power to use sales tax funds to help eligible companies with relocations, expansions, and site development. It can acquire property, finance infrastructure projects, and spend funds for a variety of quality-of-life improvements.[10]
White (NH) | 1,500 | 6.67% | |
Black or African American (NH) | 285 | 1.27% | |
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 42 | 0.19% | |
Asian (NH) | 51 | 0.23% | |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 18 | 0.08% | |
Some Other Race (NH) | 53 | 0.24% | |
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 148 | 0.66% | |
Hispanic or Latino | 20,392 | 90.68% | |
Total | 22,489 |
According to the 2010 Census, of the 4,733 households, 64.2% had children under 18 living with them, 66.8% were headed by married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.8% were not families. About 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age older. The average household size was 3.54, and the average family size was 3.83.[12]
In the city, the age distribution was 38.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 16.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 26.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.[12]
For the year 2019, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $60,431. The per capita income for the city was $21,507. About 13.3% of the population was below the poverty line.[3]
Horizon City is served by the Clint and Socorro Independent School Districts.[13]
The Socorro Independent School District serves the city center and adjacent neighborhoods on the west end of town; the boundary between it and the Clint Independent School District to the east is located at or near Kenazo Street.
The zoned schools are:
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the El Paso II District Parole Office in an unincorporated area east of Horizon City.[17]