Census Data for Universal City

Population ...

The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Universal City a population of 20,887 people.

The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Universal City a population of 18,530 people.

The city of Universal City is located in Bexar County. The 2010 Census gave Bexar County; a population of 1,714,773 people. This means that Universal City had 1.08% of the county's total population, making it Bexar's 2nd most populous community.

At the same time, Texas had a population of 25,145,561 people, meaning that Universal City had 0.07% of the total population of Texas - making it the state's 131st most populous community.

Area ...

The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Universal City has a total area of 5.6 square miles [14.5 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0.02 square miles [0.1 km²]).

Bexar County has a land area of 1,239 square miles [3,211.1 km²]. At 5.58 square miles [14.4 km²], Universal City has 0.45% of the county's total land area.

• Continue Reading ...
  • When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Universal City, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
  • Things like population, area and housing for Universal City reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Universal City might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
  • Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
  • Lat:   29° 33' 7"   (or 29.55°)
  • Lon:   -98° 18' 27"   (or -98.31°)
  • More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).

Housing Units ...

At the time of the 2010 Census, Universal City had 8,036 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 18,530 people, this averages 2.31 people per Housing Unit.

• Continue Reading ...
  • The 2010 Census shows Universal City had a land area of 5.58 square miles [14.4 km²]. This translates to 1,434 Housing Units per square mile [553 housing units/km²].
  • From the Census of 2000: Universal City had 6,331 Housing Units, a population of 14,849 people and a land area of 5.65 square miles [14.6 km²]. This gives a density of 2.35 people per Housing Unit and 1,120 Housing Units per square mile [432.6 housing units/km²].
  • Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Universal City and you need to be careful when comparing between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).

Bexar County ...

Universal City is primarily located in Bexar County<4>. A portion of Universal City extends into Guadalupe County.

The county had a population of 1,714,773 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 18,530 people, Universal City represented 1.08% of the county's total.

In addition, where the city of Universal City has a population density of 3,307 people per square mile [1,277 people/km²], Bexar County averages 1,383 people per square mile [534 people/km²].

For more information, please visit our Census Page for Bexar County.

Census-to-Census Observations ...

Introduction ...

When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Universal City, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Universal City. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.

• Continue Reading ...
  • Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Universal City or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
  • If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.

Location ...

While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Universal City, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Universal City.

• Continue Reading ...
  • For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
  • Lat:   29.552000°   (or 29°33'7" N)
  • Lon:   -98.307577°   (or -98°18'27" W)
  • For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
  • Lat:   29.552148°   (or 29°33'7" N)
  • Lon:   -98.303228°   (or -98°18'11" W)
  • The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,380 feet to the west<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
  • The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2412134) to Universal City. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Universal City. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
  • Lat:   29.552412°   (or 29°33'8" N)
  • Lon:   -98.307161°   (or -98°18'25" W)
  • The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 199.9 feet to the southwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Universal City. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Universal City.

Miscellaneous Information for Universal City ...

The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Bexar County or the city of Universal City:

• The GNIS Codes ...
  • The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to Universal City:
  • GNIS ID for Universal City: 2412134
  • GNIS ID for Bexar County: 1383800
  • GNIS ID for State of Texas: 1779801

• The FIPS Codes ...
  • An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
  • State Code: 48 (Texas)
  • County Code: 029 (Bexar County)
  • Place Code: 74408 (Universal City)
  • State & County Code: 48/029 (Texas / Bexar County)
  • State & Place Code: 48/74408 (Texas / Universal City)

• Misc. Census Codes ...
  • Universal City is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #7 (the West South-Central Division).

• The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
  • While some people have used ZIP codes to identify a community, the ZIP codes were actually created to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although a ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like Universal City, they do identify addresses that are in (or near) the city. It's important to remember that the boundaries of the ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned, eliminated or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
  • Our list of ZIP codes for Universal City:<7>
  •  & .

• Census ZCTA Codes ...
  • The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
  • ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.

For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Universal City.

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Universal City: www.universalcitytexas.com/

The official website for Bexar County: www.co.bexar.tx.us/

The official website for State of Texas: https://texas.gov/

The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau

The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)

The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)