Horizon City, Texas

History

The city, incorporated by referendum on October 22, 1988, takes its name from the real estate development corporation which 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. Only one portion of the development was successful, the area around the intersection of Horizon Boulevard (Texas Farm 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.

Climate

Geography

Horizon City is located at 31°40′56″N 106°11′46″W (31.682315, −106.196127).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.7 square miles (22.6 km²), all of it land.

Government

The current mayor of Horizon City is Walter Miller who was first elected in 2007. Horizon City is also served by seven Aldermen who are elected to two year terms. Four of the Aldermen are elected every even year and the other three and the mayor are elected every odd year in the month of May. The current Aldermen of Horizon City are Ruben Mendoza, Ron Kelley, Tony Aguilar, Kathy Masters, Charlie Ortega, Carole Zimmerman and Bill Armas.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 16,735 people, 4,733 households, and 4,081 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,923.6 people per square mile (740.5/km²). There were 5,082 housing units at an average density of 584.1/sq mi (224.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.3% White, 2.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 12.7% some other race, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 85.9% of the population.

There were 4,733 households out of which 64.2% had children under the age of 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 non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.54, and the average family size was 3.83.

In the city, the population was spread out with 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 years of age 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.

For the period 2007–2011, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $49,621, and the median income for a family was $54,722. Males had a median income of $41,784 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,514. About 15.2% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

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.

Education

Horizon City is served by the Clint and Socorro Independent School Districts. 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.

Clint Independent School District campuses

Socorro Independent School District campuses

Other

Culture

Horizon City is described as having the elements of a traditional suburban or exurban setting. Having complete autonomy in its matters, Horizon City has its own political representation and dictates the direction that the city grows without large-city interference or influence. The town is expected to take a surge in population with Fort Bliss expansion.

Service clubs in Horizon City include two Lions clubs (the Horizon City Lions Club, founded 1967, and the Horizon City Eastlake Lions Club, founded 2007) and the Horizon City Kiwanis Club.