Alvin, Texas

Alvin is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area and Brazoria County. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 24,236.[6] Alvin's claim to fame is Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, who moved with his family to the city in 1947 as an infant and lived there until he moved to Round Rock in 2003. The Nolan Ryan Museum is in the Nolan Ryan Foundation and Exhibit Center on the campus of Alvin Community College.

Alvin
City
Motto(s): 
"In touch with the past...planning for the future"
Location in the state of Texas
Alvin
Location in Texas
Alvin
Alvin (the United States)
Alvin
Alvin (North America)
Coordinates: 29°23′37″N 95°16′18″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyBrazoria
Incorporated1893
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • City CouncilMayor Paul Horn
Brad Richards, At Large Position 1
Joel Castro, At Large Position 2
Scott Reed, District A
Adam Arendell, District B
Keith Thompson, District C
Glenn Starkey, District D
Gabe Adame, District E
 • City ManagerJunru Roland
Area
 • Total25.14 sq mi (65.11 km2)
 • Land24.27 sq mi (62.85 km2)
 • Water0.87 sq mi (2.26 km2)
Elevation
43 ft (13 m)
Population
 • Total24,236
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
26,723
 • Density1,101.21/sq mi (425.18/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
77511-77512
Area code(s)281
FIPS code48-02272[4]
GNIS feature ID1329478[5]
Websitewww.alvin-tx.gov

History

The Alvin area was settled in the mid-19th century when bull ranches were established in the area. The Santa Fe Railroad eventually expanded into the area, and a settlement was established along the railroad. Alvin was originally named "Morgan" by the town's residents in honor of the settlement's original resident, Santa Fe employee Alvin Morgan; upon discovery that the name Morgan had been taken, the town named itself after Morgan's first name. The town was officially incorporated in 1893, making it the oldest incorporated settlement in Brazoria County.[7] Alvin Morgan received a land grant from the state of Texas prior to 1891.

As of 1933, Alvin was a sundown town, where practically no African Americans were allowed to live.[8]

On July 25, 1979, Tropical Storm Claudette stalled over Alvin and inundated the region with 45 inches (1,140 mm) of rain in 42 hours. The total included 43 inches (1,090 mm) in 24 hours, at the time the maximum 24-hour rainfall in American history.[9]

City election history

In Alvin's municipal election on May 7, 2016, citizens voted to elect newly relocated resident, Chris Sanger, as their At Large Position 2 city council member in the city's largest turnout in a municipal election, with 1,590 votes cast. Sanger ousted two-term incumbent, Terry Droege, with Sanger receiving 50.58% to Droege's 49.42%. Chris Sanger ran on the slogan, "Fresh Face, New Voice," while pointing out that the incumbent had a spotty attendance record to regularly scheduled council meetings, amongst other calls for accountability, such as lower property taxes, expenditure responsibility, and that police for the city of Alvin have been historically underpaid.[10][11]

Chris Sanger resigned in October 2017, citing a possible conflict of interest between his occupation and his position on city council. Candidate filings began the next month and on March 24, 2018, then 18-year-old Joel Castro won a special election against John Burkey to serve for the remainder of Sanger's unexpired term. The election made Castro, who turned 19 shortly after his victory, the youngest sitting city councilman in the state of Texas. Joel Castro was reelected in 2019 to begin serving his first full term on city council.

Geography

Alvin is located in northeastern Brazoria County at 29°23′37″N 95°16′18″W (29.393698, -95.271588).[12] It is bordered to the northeast by Friendswood and League City in Galveston County, and part of its southeast border is along the village of Hillcrest. Texas State Highway 35 bypasses the center of the city to the east; it leads north 25 miles (40 km) to downtown Houston and southwest 21 miles (34 km) to Angleton, the Brazoria County seat. Texas State Highway 6 crosses Highway 35 and passes through the center of Alvin, leading southeast 30 miles (48 km) to Galveston and 28 miles (45 km) northwest to Sugar Land

According to the United States Census Bureau, Alvin has a total area of 25.6 square miles (66.4 km2), of which 24.3 square miles (62.9 km2) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.5 km2), or 5.26%, is water.[6]

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1890261—
1900996281.6%
19101,45345.9%
19201,5194.5%
19301,511−0.5%
19403,087104.3%
19503,70119.9%
19605,64352.5%
197010,67189.1%
198016,51554.8%
199019,22016.4%
200021,41311.4%
201024,23613.2%
Est. 201926,723[3]10.3%
1930-2000[13] 2010[6]

Demographics

As of the 2010 Census, the population was 24,236 people, with a population density of 1,475 people per square mile. As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 21,413 people, 7,826 households, and 5,603 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,302.9 people per square mile (503.2/km2). There were 8,442 housing units at an average density of 513.7 per square mile (198.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.28% White, 2.11% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 10.88% from other races, and 3.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.09% of the population.

There were 7,826 households, out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,576, and the median income for a family was $43,987. Males had a median income of $36,216 versus $22,580 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,016. About 10.8% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools
Alvin High School

Public schools

Students in Alvin attend schools in the Alvin Independent School District.[14]

Schools within AISD include:

High schools:

Junior high schools:

  • Alvin Junior High School
  • Fairview Junior High School
  • G.W. Harby Junior High School
  • Rodeo Palms Junior High School
  • Shadow Creek Junior High School
  • Dr.Ronald E. MacNair Junior High School
  • Nolan Ryan Junior High

Prekindergarten - 5th grade:

  • Golda Hood-Bobbie Case Elementary School
  • Melba L. Passmore Elementary School
  • Longfellow Elementary School
  • Mark Twain Elementary School
  • Dr. James "Red" Duke Elementary
  • Glenn York Elementary School

3rd - 5th grade:

  • Alvin Elementary School
  • Walt Disney Elementary School

Prekindergarten - 2nd grade:

  • Alvin Primary School
  • R.L. Stevenson Primary School

Colleges and universities
Alvin Community College

Alvin Community College provides basic undergraduate courses and adult education. Alvin is in the ACC taxation zone.[15]

Public libraries

The Alvin Library is a part of the Brazoria County Library System. The library closed in 2010 to repair damages done by Hurricane Ike, and during that renovation, a fire broke out causing major smoke damage. The library reopened in June 2011.

Transportation

Greyhound Bus Lines operates the Alvin Station at Yellow Jacket Grocery-Citgo .

Postal services

The United States Postal Service operates the Alvin Post Office at 455 East House Street, 77511-9998.

Community information

Thelma Ley Anderson Family YMCA is located in Alvin.

The Alvin Rotary Club sponsors a yearly Frontier Day celebration, which includes a parade and 5k Fun Run.

Alvin was featured in the CMT series Trick my What?, featuring the Froberg family, who have been members of the Alvin community for more than 70 years.[16]

Notable people

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Alvin has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[18]

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References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "State and County Quick Facts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2015-03-26. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Alvin city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  7. The History of Alvin. City of Alvin website. http://www.alvin-tx.gov/default.aspx?name=historyofalvin
  8. "Alvin Citizens Doubt That Negro Suspect Responsible For Christmas Ax Killing". The Galveston Daily News. Galveston, Texas. December 27, 1933. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com. It was pointed out that practically no negroes are allowed to live in Alvin and that Lapham's home was near the Mexican quarter of the town.
  9. "Flooding in 1979 put Alvin in record books". Houston Chronicle, June 16, 2001. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/storm2001/944480.html. Last accessed September 23, 2006.
  10. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2017-08-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. http://www.alvinsun.net/news/article_a4a0a41e-0b2d-11e6-9fc1-7b1c03faae25.html
  12. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  13. Texasalmanac. Retrieved 2012-10-04
  14. "Flood Zone Map" (Archive). City of Alvin. Retrieved on March 20, 2014.
  15. "Alvin Community College Taxation Boundary Layer" (PDF). Brazoria County Appraisal District. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  16. Trick My What? Ep. 102 Produce Farmer's Tractor
  17. McCutcheon, Michael; Barone, Chuck (2013). 2014 Almanac of American Politics. The University of Chicago Press.
  18. Climate Summary for Alvin, Texas
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