Moving to Sunset, Texas

by btobers · Published July 1, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Sunset, Texas is a small city located in the southwestern corner of the state. It is bordered by the cities of San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso. The city sits on a flat plain surrounded by rolling hills and has an elevation of about 1,000 feet above sea level. The climate in Sunset is generally mild with hot summers and mild winters.

The history of Sunset dates back to the late 1800s when it was first settled by ranchers and farmers. After that, it slowly grew into a small town with several businesses and schools. In the early 1900s, oil was discovered in nearby fields which helped to boost the local economy. Since then, Sunset has grown steadily into a bustling city with a population of just over 10,000 people.

Politically, Sunset is part of Texas’ 24th congressional district and is represented by Republican Congressman Roger Williams. The city also has its own mayor and city council who are responsible for setting policies for local government operations such as taxes, zoning regulations, public safety measures, infrastructure improvements, etc.

Economically speaking, Sunset’s economy is largely based on tourism and retail establishments such as restaurants and clothing stores as well as some light manufacturing businesses. Additionally, there are several large agricultural operations located outside of town that provide goods to both local residents and those from surrounding areas.

Sunset also has several schools in the area including a public elementary school system with three campuses (K-5), one middle school (6-8) and one high school (9-12). There are also two private schools located within city limits: St James Catholic School (K-8) and Holy Cross Academy (9-12).

Finally there are several notable landmarks within Sunset such as the historic City Hall building which dates back to 1871; an old Spanish mission church built in 1781; an old stagecoach stop which served travelers between San Antonio & El Paso; plus several other historic buildings throughout town that are worth seeing if you’re ever visiting this charming little Texas town!

Population: 339. Estimated population in July 2024: 365 (+7.7% change)
Males: 173 (51.0%), Females: 166 (49.0%)

Zip code: 76270

Demographics

Median resident age: 34.9 years
Median household income: $24,886
Median house value: $37,800

Population by Race

Races in Sunset:

White Non-Hispanic (93.5%)
Hispanic (3.2%)
American Indian (2.1%)
Two or more races (2.1%)
Other race (1.5%)
Japanese (0.6%)
Other Asian (0.6%)

Ancestries: United States (30.1%), Irish (10.3%), German (7.7%), Dutch (3.5%), English (3.2%), French (3.2%).

Land area: 1.1 square miles

Population by Education

Sunset, Texas is a small town in the state of Texas. It is located in the Central Texas region and has a population of just over 5,000 people. The majority of the population is made up of Caucasian Americans, with a small percentage of African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics. The median age in Sunset is 38 years old. Most households are composed of married couples with children, although there are single-parent households as well. The average income for households in Sunset is around $47,000; however, this varies greatly due to the large number of farms in the area and their varying economic statuses.

Sunset is an agricultural town that relies heavily on farming for its economy. There are many family-run farms located within the city limits which provide fresh produce to local stores and restaurants throughout Central Texas. Although Sunset does not have any major industries or businesses located within its city limits, it does have several small businesses such as restaurants, retail stores and service providers that help to sustain its economy. In recent years there has been an increase in tourism to this small town due to its unique charm and atmosphere that cannot be found anywhere else in Texas. Many visitors come from all over Texas to experience what Sunset has to offer such as fishing on Lake Travis or exploring nearby nature reserves like Enchanted Rock State Park.

For population 25 years and over in Sunset

High school or higher: 68.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.3%
Unemployed: 7.8%
Mean travel time to work: 42.0 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Sunset city

Never married: 19.8%
Now married: 60.4%
Separated: 0.7%
Widowed: 10.8%
Divorced: 8.3%

3.2% Foreign born (1.8% Latin America, 1.5% Asia).

Population change in the 1990s: +61 (+21.9%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Sunset:

BOWIE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 11 miles; BOWIE, TX)
WISE REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM (about 20 miles; DECATUR, TX)
NOCONA GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 26 miles; NOCONA, TX)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Sunset:

FORT WORTH ALLIANCE (about 45 miles; FORT WORTH, TX; Abbreviation: AFW)
FORT WORTH MEACHAM INTL (about 53 miles; FORT WORTH, TX; Abbreviation: FTW)
FORT WORTH NAS JRB/CARSWELL FIELD (about 53 miles; FORT WORTH, TX; Abbreviation: NFW)

Other public-use airports nearest to Sunset:

BOWIE MUNI (about 11 miles; BOWIE, TX; Abbreviation: 0F2)
DECATUR MUNI (about 20 miles; DECATUR, TX; Abbreviation: LUD)
BRIDGEPORT MUNI (about 21 miles; BRIDGEPORT, TX; Abbreviation: 1F9)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Sunset:

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE (about 46 miles; GAINESVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 3,018)
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS (about 47 miles; DENTON, TX; Full-time enrollment: 21,673)
TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY (about 49 miles; DENTON, TX; Full-time enrollment: 5,746)
TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE (about 57 miles; FT WORTH, TX; Full-time enrollment: 15,454)
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (about 58 miles; FT WORTH, TX; Full-time enrollment: 7,032)
SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (about 58 miles; FT WORTH, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,253)
MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 61 miles; WICHITA FALLS, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,619)