Sunset Valley, Texas Facts for Kids

This page is about the town in Texas. For the fictional town in The Sims 3, see The Sims 3#Sunset Valley.

Quick facts for kids Sunset Valley, Texas
City
Sunset Valley Sign
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Travis
Incorporated	September 13, 1954
Area
• Total	1.40 sq mi (3.61 km²)
• Land	1.40 sq mi (3.61 km²)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Elevation	666 ft (203 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	683
• Density	487.9/sq mi (189.2/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	78735, 78745
Area code(s)	512
FIPS code	48-71324
GNIS feature ID	1376344
Website	Sunsetvalley.org

Sunset Valley is a small city in Travis County, Texas, United States. It's like a small island completely surrounded by the much larger city of Austin. In 2020, about 683 people lived there.

Where is Sunset Valley Located?
A Brief History of Sunset Valley
Who Lives in Sunset Valley?
City Services in Sunset Valley
- Police and Law Enforcement
  - What Police Services are Provided?
  - Important Events
- Firefighting Services
Education in Sunset Valley
Gallery
See also

Where is Sunset Valley Located?

Sunset Valley is found about 5 miles (8 kilometers) southwest of downtown Austin. It's a pretty small place.

The city covers a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.

A Brief History of Sunset Valley

Early Days and Founding

The story of Sunset Valley began a long time ago. In 1825, Mexico passed a law that encouraged people to move to and settle on new land. The first records of land being bought and sold in the Sunset Valley area were in 1835. Back then, this region was part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas.

In the early 1950s, two brothers, M.H. and Clarence Flournoy, bought a large piece of land. They wanted to build a new neighborhood there. They even drilled a well to provide water for the area.

In 1954, people living there decided they wanted to become an official town. They held an election on September 13, 1954. Most people voted yes, and the Village of Sunset Valley was officially created. Clinton Vilven became its first mayor.

Growing Pains and Challenges

In the early years, Sunset Valley was known for its beautiful Christmas lights along Sunset Trail. Many visitors from Austin would come to see them. The city also hosted a big youth rodeo, which brought in many participants and viewers.

As the nearby city of Austin grew, it started to surround Sunset Valley. This led to many disagreements about land and rules. The exact borders of Sunset Valley changed several times over the years.

One big disagreement happened in the 1970s. The Austin school district wanted to build a sports complex and bus garage in Sunset Valley. But the city of Sunset Valley said no. This led to a court case, and in 1973, the highest court in Texas decided that the school district could build its complex.

Sunset Valley built its first city hall in 1977. While informal police help started in 1954, a formal police department was created in 1979.

Modern Development

Even though Sunset Valley started as a place mostly for homes, it began to grow commercially. In 1990, the city approved plans for a large shopping area. By 1990, the population had grown to 327 people.

In 2001, the United States Postal Service officially recognized Sunset Valley as a place for mail delivery. Today, most of the city is still residential, but there are more businesses now.

Who Lives in Sunset Valley?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1960	179	—
1970	292	63.1%
1980	420	43.8%
1990	327	−22.1%
2000	365	11.6%
2010	749	105.2%
2020	683	−8.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

In 2000, there were 365 people living in Sunset Valley. There were 146 households, which are groups of people living together in one home.

About 27.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (63%) were married couples. The average household had 2.5 people.

The population was spread out in terms of age:

21.6% were under 18 years old.
3.3% were between 18 and 24.
24.1% were between 25 and 44.
33.7% were between 45 and 64.
17.3% were 65 years or older.

The average age in the city was 46 years.

City Services in Sunset Valley

Police and Law Enforcement

The Sunset Valley Police Department (SVPD) is in charge of keeping the city safe. As of 2022, it has 14 employees, including 13 police officers and one civilian helper. The department includes a police chief, a lieutenant, sergeants, and patrol officers.

The SVPD was officially started in 1979. Its main office is at the Sunset Valley City Hall.

Lenn Carter became the Chief of Police on September 12, 2017. His main goal is to build trust between the community and the police. The City Council chooses the Chief of Police.

What Police Services are Provided?

The Sunset Valley Police Department works 24 hours a day. They help keep both the shopping areas and homes safe. They make sure people follow the laws of Texas and the rules of Sunset Valley.

The SVPD also focuses on working with the community. They have programs like National Night Out Against Crime, a Community Partnership program, and a Neighborhood Watch program. These programs help neighbors work together to prevent crime and keep kids safe.

Important Events

The Sunset Valley Police Department helped investigate the Austin serial bombings in March 2018. The person responsible for the bombings was seen on security cameras at a FedEx store in Sunset Valley. This is where some explosive packages had been sent from.

Firefighting Services

In the past, volunteer firefighters helped Sunset Valley. Now, the Austin Fire Department (AFD) provides firefighting services for the city. A new fire station, Fire Station 51, was built nearby in Austin. It serves both Austin and Sunset Valley.

Education in Sunset Valley

Children in Sunset Valley attend schools in the Austin Independent School District. The local elementary school is Sunset Valley Elementary School. Students then go to Covington Middle School and Crockett High School.