Alba, Texas

Alba is a town in Texas, United States. Located mostly in Wood County, a small portion of the town extends into Rains County. The population was 430 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Location of Alba, Texas

Alba is located at 32°47′31″N 95°38′4″W (32.792069, -95.634532)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.9 km² (1.1 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 430 people, 196 households, and 118 families residing in the town. The population density was 149.6/km² (387.8/mi²). There were 232 housing units at an average density of 80.7/km² (209.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.60% White, 0.47% African American, 0.47% Native American, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.

There were 196 households out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,438, and the median income for a family was $29,464. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $25,278 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,675. About 11.4% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Alba is served by the Alba-Golden Independent School District.

Alba-Golden Elementary School and Alba-Golden High School serve Alba.

Sundown Town

Author James W. Loewen has often listed Alba as an example of a sundown town. In his book, Lies Across America, the thirty-seventh chapter is entitled, "Alba, Texas: The Only Honest Sundown Town in the United States." Loewen thrice lists Alba as an example of a sundown town in his book, Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism. Alba is further provided as an example of segregated public housing.