La Réunion was a utopian socialist community formed in 1855 by French, Belgian, and Swiss colonists on the south bank of the Trinity River in central Dallas County, Texas (US).

[2] Initially, plans for the colony were loosely structured by design as it was Considerant's intent to make it a "communal experiment administered by a system of direct democracy.

La Réunion existed for only eighteen months with its demise attributable to financial insolvency, a shortage of skilled participants, inclement weather, inability to succeed at farming, and rising costs.

Forced into exile in Belgium, Considerant accepted an invitation from Arthur Brisbane to tour the United States and traveled widely there in 1852 and 1853.

[8][9] Initially, plans for the colony were loosely structured as Considerant intended to make it a "communal experiment administered by a system of direct democracy.

The Societe de Colonisation Europeo Americaine was established on September 26, 1854 as a joint-stock company; the equivalent of $1 million worth of shares were sold to a range of investors including Jean-Baptiste-André Godin, promising six percent interest per year.

They walked overland to the site of their new colony approximately 250 miles (400 km) northward, with their possessions hauled by ox carts, and arrived on April 22, 1855.

The new arrivals spoke a different language from the settlers, believed in a different system of government and Catholic faith, and brought with them skills that the existing farmers did not possess.

The watchmaking, weaving, brewing and storekeeping skills of the new colonists were ill-suited to the establishment of a colony, since they lacked the experience and ability to produce food for themselves.

[8] On July 6, 1856, Cantagrel resigned his position in the colony after months of conflict with Considerant, particularly over his failure to compensate colonists who had chosen to leave the community.

Notable naturalists Jacob Boll and his protege Julien Reverchon played important roles in documentation the flora of the American West.

[16] Starting in the 1880s, former colonist and geologist Emil Remond bought a parcel just west of the original colony and began fabricating bricks and cement from the and clay and limestone there.