Riviera is an unincorporated community

Unincorporated area

In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...

 in Kleberg County, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

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Riviera is located about 11 miles (17.7 km) south of Kingsville

Kingsville, Texas

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,575 people, 8,943 households, and 6,134 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,848.8 people per square mile . There were 10,427 housing units at an average density of 753.8 per square mile...

 on U.S. Highway 77 and about 22 miles (35.4 km) northeast of Falfurrias

Falfurrias, Texas

Falfurrias is a city in and the county seat of Brooks County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,297 at the 2000 census. The town is named for founder Edward Cunningham Lasater's ranch, La Mota de Falfurrias. In 1893, the Falfurrias ranch was one of the largest in Texas at some 350,000...

 on Texas State Highway 285

Texas State Highway 285

State Highway 285 or SH 285 is a state highway that runs from Riviera in southern Texas, near Corpus Christi, west to Hebbronville.-Route description:...

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History

Riviera was founded in 1906 by Theodore Fredrick Koch, a land promoter. He purchased land from the King Ranch

King Ranch

King Ranch, located in south Texas between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, is one of the world's largest ranches. The ranch, founded in 1853 by Captain Richard King and Gideon K. Lewis, includes portions of six Texas counties, including most of Kleberg County and much of Kenedy County, with...

 to sell to landseekers. He built a townsite along the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway and named it Riviera after the French Riviera

French Riviera

The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...

. 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 Highway 77 was constructed, it helped the economy get back on its feet. Now its economy depends on farming. Its also the last stop for about 60 miles (96.6 km) to Raymondville

Raymondville, Texas

Raymondville is a city in and the county seat of Willacy County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,733 at the 2000 census. It may be included as part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan areas....

, going south, so its gas
stations and restaurants are used by many travelers heading south.

Education

Riviera is served by Riviera Independent School District

Riviera Independent School District

Riviera Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Riviera, Texas .Located in Kleberg County, a very small portion of the district extends into Kenedy County....

• Grades: 9-12 Riviera-Kaufer High School
• Grades: 6-8 De La Paz Middle School
• Grades: PK-5 Nanny Elementary School

External links