Riviera, Texas
Census-designated place in Texas, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Riviera is a census-designated place in Kleberg County, Texas, United States. As of the 2022 census, it had a population of 758.[1] It is located 15 miles (24 km) south of Kingsville on U.S. Route 77 (Future Interstate 69E) and 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Falfurrias on Texas State Highway 285.
Riviera, Texas | |
|---|---|
  Riviera Location within Texas  Riviera Location within the United States | |
| Coordinates: 27°17′55″N 97°48′54″W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Kleberg |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.70 sq mi (9.59 km2) |
| • Land | 3.69 sq mi (9.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0.015 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 37 ft (11 m) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 758 |
| • Density | 187/sq mi (72.1/km2) |
| Time zone | CST |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT |
| ZIP code | 78379 |
| Area code | 361 |
| FIPS code | 48-62468 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1345283 |
History
Riviera was founded in 1906 by Theodore Fredrick Koch, a land promoter. He purchased land from the King Ranch to sell to landseekers. He built a townsite along the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway and named it after the French Riviera. Koch ran a train from Chicago to Riviera twice a month to bring more people to the area. Riviera witnessed growth in its first few years, but a drought hit the area in 1915 and then a terrible hurricane hit the area in 1916. When U.S. Highway 77 was constructed, it helped the economy get back on its feet. Now its economy depends on farming. It is also the last stop for about 60 miles (97 km) to Raymondville, going south, so its gas stations and restaurants are used by many travelers heading in that direction.
Dick Cheney hunting accident
The town of Riviera gained notability on February 11, 2006, when, while participating in a quail hunt, then-Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot Harry Whittington with a 28-gauge Perazzi shotgun on a private ranch near Riviera. Whittington suffered non-fatal injuries to the face, neck, and chest, a collapsed lung, as well as a non-fatal heart attack and atrial fibrillation on February 14.[2][3][4] Whittington died in 2023, from unrelated complications.[5]
Education
Riviera is served by Riviera Independent School District.[6]
- Grades: 9-12 Kaufer High School
- Grades: PK–5 Nanny Elementary School
- Grades: 6-8 De la Paz Middle School
Under Texas law, people in Riviera ISD are zoned to Del Mar College.[7]
Demographics
Riviera first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census.[20]
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[22] | Pop 2020[21] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 180 | 161 | 26.12% | 26.44% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1 | 7 | 0.15% | 1.15% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 0 | 2 | 0.00% | 0.33% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1 | 4 | 0.15% | 0.66% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 0.15% | 0.16% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 0 | 4 | 0.00% | 0.66% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 506 | 430 | 73.44% | 70.61% |
| Total | 689 | 609 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
