Utopia is a census-designated place (CDP) in Uvalde County, Texas, United States. The population was 225 at the 2020 census.
Utopia, Texas | |
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Nickname(s): "An Ideally, Perfect Place" | |
Location of Utopia, Texas | |
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Coordinates: 29°36′59″N 99°31′36″W / 29.61639°N 99.52667°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
County | Uvalde |
Area | |
• Total | 3.0 sq mi (7.6 km2) |
• Land | 3.0 sq mi (7.6 km2) |
• Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
Elevation | 1,362 ft (415 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 225 |
• Density | 75/sq mi (30/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP code | 78884 |
Area code | 830 |
FIPS code | 48-74576[2] |
GNIS feature ID | 1349137[1] |
Website | www.utopiatexas.info |
History
editKarl Burkli of Zürich, Switzerland, one of the early Swiss Socialists, had moved to Texas in 1855 to take part in an endeavor to found a utopian self-sustaining community named Utopia. However, the project didn't succeed and Burkli moved back to Zürich. He took part in the movement to end the rule of the liberal majority in Zürich. In 1868 he was elected to the council for the revision of the constitution of Zürich.
Others say citizens of another earlier settlement of Waresville called it Utopia after finding that the name "Montana, Texas," had already been taken. To this day the cemetery is named for Waresville. A planned utopian community nearby was cancelled after the failure of La Reunion near Dallas discouraged colonizers. The nearby city of Castroville was founded by French-Alsatian settlers.
Geography
editUtopia is located at 29°36′59″N 99°31′36″W / 29.61639°N 99.52667°W (29.616402, -99.526623).[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.6 km2), all land.
Climate
editAccording to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Utopia has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[4]
Demographics
editCensus | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | 241 | — | |
2010 | 227 | −5.8% | |
2020 | 225 | −0.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1850–1900[6] 1910[7] 1920[8] 1930[9] 1940[10] 1950[11] 1960[12] 1970[13] 1980[14] 1990[15] 2000[16] 2010[17] 2020[18] |
2000 Census
editAs of the census[2] of 2000, there were 241 people, 111 households, and 69 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 81.6 inhabitants per square mile (31.5/km2). There were 127 housing units at an average density of 43.0 per square mile (16.6/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.36% White, 0.41% Native American, 4.56% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.30% of the population.
There were 111 households, out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 27.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $28,281, and the median income for a family was $35,893. Males had a median income of $25,714 versus $16,667 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,608. About 15.5% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 21.5% of those 65 or over.
Education
editUtopia is served by the Utopia Independent School District which operates Utopia High School.
Utopia in popular culture
editSeven Days in Utopia (2011) was filmed primarily in Utopia as well as at the Boot Ranch golf club just north of Fredericksburg, and featuring Academy Award winner Robert Duvall and Lucas Black. It is based on the book Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009. ISBN 978-0-310-31885-9
American rapper Travis Scott, who is also from Texas, released his fourth studio album Utopia in 2023 and used the town to promote the album, placing billboards and totems which played a siren-like sound.
References
edit- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Utopia, Texas
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ Climate Summary for Utopia, Texas
- ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
- ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "Census Bureau profile: Utopia, Texas". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
Further reading
editValby, Karen (2010). Welcome to Utopia: Notes from a Small Town. New York: Spiegel & Grau. ISBN 978-0-385-52286-1.