Sunset Valley, Texas
Encyclopedia
Sunset Valley is a city in Travis County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 365 at the 2000 census; it was 478 in the 2005 census estimate. It is surrounded on all sides by the city of Austin
.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), all of it land.
, inspired the name Sunset Valley. In September 1954, Sunset Valley was incorporated as a town and established a mayor/council form of government. Clinton Vilven became the first mayor of the newly incorporated community. About a month after incorporation, Sunset Valley experienced the first of a series of deannexations through the years as petitioners applied to deannex various tracts while the town annexed other tracts. During the 1960s, city services were developed, including the installation of natural gas lines and the paving of roads. The growth of nearby Austin began to impinge upon the boundaries of Sunset Valley in the 1970s, causing disputes over territory and jurisdiction. One example of this tense relationship occurred in 1970, when Sunset Valley residents objected to the Austin Independent School District
's plans to build an athletic complex within the corporate limits of the city. A court would later rule in favor of Austin ISD's right to build the complex, which was completed in 1976. Sporadic disputes between the two cities would continue into the 1980s and 1990s. Sunset Valley's first city hall was completed in 1977 and a police department was established in 1979. By 1990, the population had grown to 327. A wastewater system was constructed in the early 1990s with a grant from the Texas Water Development Board. In 1998, Sunset Valley entered into an inter-local agreement with the city of Austin to provide firefighting services. The population rose to 365 by 2000, an 11.6 percent increase over the 1990 figure. In 2001, the U.S. Postal Service officially recognized Sunset Valley as a destination for mail delivery. While a vast majority of the city's land remains residential, commercial development has increased in recent years.
of 2000, there were 365 people, 146 households, and 109 families residing in the city. The population density
was 265.0 people per square mile (102.1/km2). There were 154 housing units at an average density of 111.8/sq mi (43.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.05% White, 0.27% Native American, 1.37% Asian, 4.66% from other races
, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.33% of the population.
There were 146 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 33.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $75,470, and the median income for a family was $78,937. Males had a median income of $52,083 versus $34,375 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $28,833. About 7.3% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Sunset Valley is within the Austin Independent School District
. The city is zoned to Sunset Valley Elementary School in Sunset Valley, Covington Middle School, and Crockett High School.
Travis County, Texas
As of 2009, the U.S. census estimates there were 1,026,158 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 821 people per square mile . There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 365 at the 2000 census; it was 478 in the 2005 census estimate. It is surrounded on all sides by the city of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
Geography
Sunset Valley is located at 30.225631°N 97.816133°W (30.225631, -97.816133), 5 miles (8 km) southwest of downtown AustinAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), all of it land.
History
The first land transaction in the area dates back to 1835, but it wasn't until the early 1950s that the community of Sunset Valley was developed. It was at that time that two brothers, Clarence and M.H. Flournoy purchased a large tract of land for a residential subdivision. The landscape, a wooded valley nestled among rolling hills on the western edge of AustinAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, inspired the name Sunset Valley. In September 1954, Sunset Valley was incorporated as a town and established a mayor/council form of government. Clinton Vilven became the first mayor of the newly incorporated community. About a month after incorporation, Sunset Valley experienced the first of a series of deannexations through the years as petitioners applied to deannex various tracts while the town annexed other tracts. During the 1960s, city services were developed, including the installation of natural gas lines and the paving of roads. The growth of nearby Austin began to impinge upon the boundaries of Sunset Valley in the 1970s, causing disputes over territory and jurisdiction. One example of this tense relationship occurred in 1970, when Sunset Valley residents objected to the Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District is a school district that is based in the city of Austin, Texas, United States. It was established in 1881. Its current superintendent is...
's plans to build an athletic complex within the corporate limits of the city. A court would later rule in favor of Austin ISD's right to build the complex, which was completed in 1976. Sporadic disputes between the two cities would continue into the 1980s and 1990s. Sunset Valley's first city hall was completed in 1977 and a police department was established in 1979. By 1990, the population had grown to 327. A wastewater system was constructed in the early 1990s with a grant from the Texas Water Development Board. In 1998, Sunset Valley entered into an inter-local agreement with the city of Austin to provide firefighting services. The population rose to 365 by 2000, an 11.6 percent increase over the 1990 figure. In 2001, the U.S. Postal Service officially recognized Sunset Valley as a destination for mail delivery. While a vast majority of the city's land remains residential, commercial development has increased in recent years.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 365 people, 146 households, and 109 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 265.0 people per square mile (102.1/km2). There were 154 housing units at an average density of 111.8/sq mi (43.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.05% White, 0.27% Native American, 1.37% Asian, 4.66% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.33% of the population.
There were 146 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 33.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $75,470, and the median income for a family was $78,937. Males had a median income of $52,083 versus $34,375 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $28,833. About 7.3% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The city council consists of one mayor and five council members. As of 2008 the mayor is Jeff Mills and the council members are Carla Jenkins, Sue Kalar, John Moore, Bruce Smith, and Barbara Wilson. Jenkins is the Chairperson of the Planning and Environmental Committee. Kalar is the Chairperson of the Community Development and Public Relations Committee. Moore is the Chairperson of the Public Safety Committee. Smith is the Chairperson of the Public Works Committee. Wilson is the Chairperson of the Budget, Finance & Administration Committee.Education
Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District is a school district that is based in the city of Austin, Texas, United States. It was established in 1881. Its current superintendent is...
. The city is zoned to Sunset Valley Elementary School in Sunset Valley, Covington Middle School, and Crockett High School.