Alvin, Texas
| City of Alvin | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
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| Coordinates: 29°23′37″N 95°16′18″W / 29.39361°N 95.27167°WCoordinates: 29°23′37″N 95°16′18″W / 29.39361°N 95.27167°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Brazoria |
| Incorporated | 1893 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • City Council | Mayor Gary Appelt Charles Batty, III Terry Droege Juan Sifuentes Eileen Cross Jim Landriault Roger Stuksa Greg Bullard |
| • City Manager | Terry Lucas |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.3 sq mi (44.9 km2) |
| • Land | 16.4 sq mi (42.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2) |
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Population (2007)[1] | |
| • Total | 21,413 |
| • Density | 1,237.8/sq mi (476.9/km2) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 77511-77512 |
| Area code(s) | 281 |
| FIPS code | 48-02272[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1329478[3] |
| Website | Alvin-TX.gov/ |
Alvin is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and Brazoria County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 21,413. 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. The museum covers the entire life and sports career of Nolan Ryan, and includes a machine that lets the visitor feel what it is like to catch one of Nolan Ryan's pitches.
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[edit] 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. But upon discovery 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.[4]
On July 25, 1979 Tropical Storm Claudette stalled over Alvin and inundated the region with 45 inches in 42 hours. That total included 43 inches in 24 hours, the maximum 24-hour rainfall in US history.[5]
[edit] Geography
Alvin is located at 29°23′37″N 95°16′18″W / 29.39361°N 95.27167°W (29.393698, -95.271588)[6].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.3 square miles (45 km2), of which, 16.4 square miles (42 km2) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) of it (5.25%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] 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.
[edit] Notable residents
- Nolan Ryan, former Major League Baseball pitcher, grew up in Alvin, Texas.
- Austin Miller, actor and singer. The town declared March 5, 2007, as "Austin Miller Day"[7]
- Joe Ferguson, former NFL football player for the Buffalo Bills, was born in Alvin in 1950.
- By the End of Tonight, an instrumental rock band signed to Temporary Residence Limited
- Gary Keithley, former NFL football player for the St. Louis Cardinals. For the National Football League team that played in St. Louis from 1960 to 1987, see Arizona Cardinals.
- Nathan Eovaldi, current starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, born 1990.
[edit] Education
[edit] Primary and secondary schools
[edit] Public schools
Students in Alvin attend schools in the Alvin Independent School District. High school aged students attend Alvin High School or Manvel High School, based on location. Younger students are also divided by location. Private Schools available are Texas Preparatory Academy (9-12th) and Living Stones (K-12th) 6th - 8th grades:
- Alvin Junior High School
- Fairview Junior High School
- G.W. Harby Junior High School
- Manvel Junior High School
- Nolan Ryan Junior High School
Prekindergarten - 5th grade:
- Golda Hood-Bobbie Case Elementary School
- Don Jeter Elementary School
- Mary Burks Marek Elementary School
- E.C. Mason Elementary School
- Melba L. Passmore Elementary School
- Savannah Lakes Elementary School
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary School
3rd - 5th grade:
- Alvin Elementary School
- Walt Disney Elementary School
- Longfellow Elementary School
Prekindergarten - 3rd grade:
- Alvin Primary School
- R.L. Stevenson Primary School
- Mark Twain Primary School
[edit] Colleges and universities
Additionally, Alvin Community College provides basic undergraduate courses and adult education.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Transportation
Greyhound Bus Lines operates the Alvin Station at Yellow Jacket Grocery-Citgo [1].
[edit] Postal services
The United States Postal Service operates the Alvin Post Office at 455 East House Street, 77511-9998.
[edit] 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.
[edit] References
- ^ "US Census Bureau Population Finder: Alvin city, TX". factfinder.census.gov. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=alvin&_cityTown=alvin&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ The History of Alvin. City of Alvin Website. http://www.alvin-tx.gov/default.aspx?name=historyofalvin
- ^ 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.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Former student makes it big", The Baylor Lariat, March 9, 2007
[edit] External links
- City of Alvin, Texas - Official site.
- Alvin Lions Club Annual Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament
- Alvin Youth Bowling Program
- Alvin Golf & Country Club
- Alvin-Manvel Area Chamber of Commerce
- "Texas Storms in Brazoria County". Retrieved September 22, 2005.
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