Horizon City, Texas Explained

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]

History

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]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.6km2, all land.[3]

Climate

Government

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]

Economic development

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]

Demographics

2020 census

Horizon City racial composition[11]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)!Race!Number!Percentage
White (NH)1,5006.67%
Black or African American (NH)2851.27%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)420.19%
Asian (NH)510.23%
Pacific Islander (NH)180.08%
Some Other Race (NH)530.24%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)1480.66%
Hispanic or Latino20,39290.68%
Total22,489
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,489 people, 5,940 households, and 5,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 1921.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The 5,490 housing units had an average density of 584.1sp=usNaNsp=us.

2010 census

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]

Education

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.

Schools serving Horizon City

Clint Independent School District campuses

Socorro Independent School District campuses

The zoned schools are:

Other

Government and infrastructure

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the El Paso II District Parole Office in an unincorporated area east of Horizon City.[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. August 7, 2020.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  3. Web site: US Census QuickFacts Horizon City Texas. United States Census Bureau. 2022-02-18.
  4. Web site: Texas Attorney General Opinion: LO89-25. Jim. Mattox. April 3, 1989. The Portal to Texas History.
  5. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-07-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170321084025/http://www.horizoncity.org/content/files/App2_ParksPlan_client.pdf . 2017-03-21 . dead .
  6. Web site: Horizon lots sit undeveloped;owners unable to sell. https://web.archive.org/web/20150827163028/http://www.elpasotimes.com:80/ci_17498314. 2015-08-27. 2023-08-07.
  7. Web site: Ad scams prey on Horizon lot owners. https://web.archive.org/web/20150512144128/http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_18172193. 2015-05-12. 2023-08-07.
  8. Web site: Horizon Communities Improvement Association. Horizon Communities Improvement Association.
  9. Web site: Horizon City Mayor and Council. Town of Horizon City. 2022-02-18.
  10. Web site: Home. Horizon EDC.
  11. Web site: Explore Census Data . 2022-05-19 . data.census.gov.
  12. Web site: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Horizon city, Texas . dead . https://archive.today/20200212144955/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4834832 . February 12, 2020 . U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder . January 11, 2013.
  13. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: El Paso County, TX. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022-06-29. - See block map
  14. Web site: SISD High School Attendance Boundaries. Socorro Independent School District. 2022-07-04. July 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220705192342/https://www.sisd.net/Page/815. dead. - Zoom on Eastlake Zone.
  15. Web site: SISD Middle School Attendance Boundaries. Socorro Independent School District. 2022-07-04. July 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220705192342/https://www.sisd.net/Page/814. dead. - Zoom on Ensor zone
  16. Web site: SISD Elementary School Attendance Boundaries. Socorro Independent School District. 2022-07-04. July 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220705231927/https://www.sisd.net/Page/813. dead. - Zoom on Horizon Heights zone
  17. "Parole Division Region V ." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.