Alton, Texas
Encyclopedia
Alton is a city in Hidalgo County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 12,341 at the 2010 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen
metropolitan areas.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 4,384 people, 1,059 households, and 988 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,075.5 people per square mile (802.2/km²). There were 1,175 housing units at an average density of 556.3 per square mile (215.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.33% White, 0.05% African American, 0.32% Native American, 19.02% from other races
, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 97.90% of the population.
There were 1,059 households out of which 58.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.7% were married couples
living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.7% were non-families. 6.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.14 and the average family size was 4.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 37.9% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,097, and the median income for a family was $23,563. Males had a median income of $18,487 versus $15,341 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $6,230. About 38.7% of families and 42.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.9% of those under age 18 and 39.3% of those age 65 or over.
. A small portion is a part of the Sharyland Independent School District
.
In addition, South Texas Independent School District
operates magnet schools that serve the community.
The bus crash inspired Russell Banks
' novel The Sweet Hereafter
, as well as the film based upon it
. The NTSB found that the crash was the fault of truck driver Ruben Perez.
Some lawyers faced ethics charges in their rush to file suit after the accident. Dozens of lawyers hurried to Alton, reportedly even approaching families in the morgue and in hospitals. The soft-drink truck was owned by Valley Coca-Cola
, a division of the soft drink giant. The bus manufacturer was sued on the grounds that the standard rear emergency door should have been supplemented with an exit on the left side of the bus which would have permitted most or all of the children to escape. The community of Alton was sued because the pit was not thoroughly barricaded.
The Texas State Bar sought to bring actions against lawyers whom it believed to be paying people to refer clients to them. Some families who settled soon after the accident sued again after discovering that other families had received larger settlements. The 350 lawsuits resulted in settlements totaling more than $150 million. In the end, Valley Coca-Cola paid some $144 million in claims of which lawyers took an estimated $50 million. Families who lost children received about $4.5 million from Valley Coca-Cola for each child who perished while the 60 children who survived each received an estimated $500,000 to $900,000.
Few of the citizens of Alton attended the criminal trial for the truck driver. Many think that the money received from the lawsuits only brought the town trouble.
Hidalgo County, Texas
Hidalgo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Hidalgo County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, and is the seventh most-populous county in Texas. Its population in 2010 was 774,769, a 35% increase from 2000...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 12,341 at the 2010 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen
Reynosa–McAllen Metropolitan Area
Reynosa–McAllen, also known as McAllen–Reynosa, or simply as Borderplex, is one of the six bi-national metropolitan areas along the Mexico–U.S border. The city of Reynosa is situated on the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, while the city of McAllen is located in...
metropolitan areas.
Geography
Alton is located at 26°17′4"N 98°18′21"W (26.284307, -98.305940).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,384 people, 1,059 households, and 988 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,075.5 people per square mile (802.2/km²). There were 1,175 housing units at an average density of 556.3 per square mile (215.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.33% White, 0.05% African American, 0.32% Native American, 19.02% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 97.90% of the population.
There were 1,059 households out of which 58.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.7% were non-families. 6.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.14 and the average family size was 4.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 37.9% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,097, and the median income for a family was $23,563. Males had a median income of $18,487 versus $15,341 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $6,230. About 38.7% of families and 42.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.9% of those under age 18 and 39.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Most of Alton is a part of the Mission Consolidated Independent School DistrictMission Consolidated Independent School District
Mission Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district based in Mission, Texas , in the lower Rio Grande Valley.In addition to Mission, the district serves most of Alton, part of Palmhurst, and the unincorporated community of Alton North.In 2009, the school district was rated...
. A small portion is a part of the Sharyland Independent School District
Sharyland Independent School District
Sharyland Independent School District is a public school district based in Mission, Texas .The district serves parts of Mission, Palmhurst, McAllen, and Alton as well as the unincorporated community of West Sharyland....
.
In addition, South Texas Independent School District
South Texas Independent School District
South Texas Independent School District is a public school district headquartered in Mercedes, Texas . STISD operates magnet schools that draw students from three counties: Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy...
operates magnet schools that serve the community.
Bus crash
At 7:30 A.M. on September 21, 1989, a Dr. Pepper truck hit a Mission school bus, knocking it into a gravel pit at the corner of Five-Mile Road and Bryan Road. Twenty-one children from the Alton area drowned, and forty-nine were injured. This was the worst school bus accident to date in Texas history.The bus crash inspired Russell Banks
Russell Banks
Russell Banks is an American writer of fiction and poetry.- Biography :Russell Banks was born in Newton, Massachusetts on March 28, 1940. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in upstate New York, and has been named a New York State Author. He is also...
' novel The Sweet Hereafter
The Sweet Hereafter
The Sweet Hereafter is a 1991 novel by American author Russell Banks. It is set in a small town in the aftermath of a deadly school bus accident that has killed most of the town's children...
, as well as the film based upon it
The Sweet Hereafter (film)
The Sweet Hereafter is a 1997 Canadian film written and directed by Atom Egoyan. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Russell Banks.-Plot:...
. The NTSB found that the crash was the fault of truck driver Ruben Perez.
Some lawyers faced ethics charges in their rush to file suit after the accident. Dozens of lawyers hurried to Alton, reportedly even approaching families in the morgue and in hospitals. The soft-drink truck was owned by Valley Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, a division of the soft drink giant. The bus manufacturer was sued on the grounds that the standard rear emergency door should have been supplemented with an exit on the left side of the bus which would have permitted most or all of the children to escape. The community of Alton was sued because the pit was not thoroughly barricaded.
The Texas State Bar sought to bring actions against lawyers whom it believed to be paying people to refer clients to them. Some families who settled soon after the accident sued again after discovering that other families had received larger settlements. The 350 lawsuits resulted in settlements totaling more than $150 million. In the end, Valley Coca-Cola paid some $144 million in claims of which lawyers took an estimated $50 million. Families who lost children received about $4.5 million from Valley Coca-Cola for each child who perished while the 60 children who survived each received an estimated $500,000 to $900,000.
Few of the citizens of Alton attended the criminal trial for the truck driver. Many think that the money received from the lawsuits only brought the town trouble.