Riviera, Texas

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
Census-designated place
Riviera Show map of Texas Riviera Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 27°17′55″N 97°48′54″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Kleberg
Area
• Total	9.59 km2 (3.70 sq mi)
• Land	9.55 km2 (3.69 sq mi)
• Water	0.04 km2 (0.02 sq mi)
Elevation	11 m (37 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Total	758
• Density	72.1/km2 (187/sq mi)
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.

Education

Riviera is served by Riviera Independent School District.^[2]

• Grades: 7–12 Kaufer High School
• Grades: PK–6 Nanny Elementary School

Under Texas law, people in Riviera ISD are zoned to Del Mar College.^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2010	689		—
2020	609		−11.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[4] 1850–1900[5] 1910[6] 1920[7] 1930[8] 1940[9] 1950[10] 1960[11] 1970[12] 1980[13] 1990[14] 2000[15] 2010[16] 2020[17]

Riviera first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census.^[16]

Riviera CDP, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010[18]	Pop 2020[17]	% 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%
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%

See also

• Kingsville micropolitan area