Alvin, Texas
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 17.3 square miles (44.8 km²), of which, 16.4 square miles (42.5 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (5.25%) is water.
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.
. 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)
7th - 8th grades:
Prekindergarten - 6th grade:
3rd - 6th grade:
Prekindergarten - 3rd grade:
Additionally, Alvin Community College
provides basic undergraduate courses and adult education.
http://www.greyhound.com/scripts/en/TicketCenter/terminal.asp?city=680097.
operates the Alvin Post Office at 455 East House Street, 77511-9998.
is located in Alvin.
The Alvin Rotary Club sponsors a yearly Frontier Day celebration, which includes a parade and 5k Fun Run.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown
Greater Houston
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas...
metropolitan area and Brazoria County
Brazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County[p] is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located on the Gulf Coast within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Regionally, parts of the county are within the extreme southern-most fringe of the regions locally known as Southeast Texas. Brazoria County is among a...
. 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
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
, who moved with his family to the city in 1947 as an infant and lived there until he moved to Round Rock
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
in 2003. The Nolan Ryan Museum is in the Nolan Ryan Foundation and Exhibit Center on the campus of Alvin Community College
Alvin Community College
Alvin Community College is a community college in Brazoria County in the U.S. state of Texas. Alvin Community College provides educational opportunities in workforce training, academics, technical fields, adult basic education, and personal development.As defined by the Texas Legislature, the...
. 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.
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.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.
Geography
Alvin is located at 29°23′37"N 95°16′18"W (29.393698, -95.271588).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 17.3 square miles (44.8 km²), of which, 16.4 square miles (42.5 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (5.25%) is water.
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 21,413 people, 7,826 households, and 5,603 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 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
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 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
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, 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
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 $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.
Notable residents
- Nolan RyanNolan RyanLynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher, grew up in Alvin, Texas. - Austin MillerAustin MillerAustin Miller is an American actor, dancer, and singer, known for television and stage performances. He played the part of Hawk in the soap opera Days of our Lives, performed as the lead in the Hairspray musical in both a national tour and a Las Vegas production, and in 2007 was a second place...
, actor and singer. The town declared March 5, 2007, as "Austin Miller Day" - Joe FergusonJoe FergusonJoseph Carlton Ferguson, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. Ferguson played college football at the University of Arkansas, where he still holds the school's single game record for most completions and in that same season was named the Southwest Conference's Offensive...
, former NFL football player for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, was born in Alvin in 1950. - By the End of TonightBy the End of TonightBy the End of Tonight was an American instrumental rock band from Alvin, Texas. They were signed to notable post-rock label Temporary Residence Limited for their life as a band.-History:...
, an instrumental rock band signed to Temporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy... - Gary KeithleyGary KeithleyGary Keithley is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. He is best known for achieving a quarterback rating of zero in back-to-back games in December 1973. These games were also his first two career starts....
, 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 CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Nathan EovaldiNathan EovaldiNathan Edward Eovaldi is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.-Baseball career:Eovaldi was drafted by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of Alvin High School. His draft slot had fallen because he had Tommy John surgery in his junior year of high school...
, current starting pitcher for the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, born 1990.
Public schools
Students in Alvin attend schools in the Alvin Independent School DistrictAlvin Independent School District
Alvin Independent School District is a school district based in Alvin, Texas .Alvin ISD is a large suburban school district south of Houston that serves the communities of Alvin, Manvel, Pearland, Hillcrest, Rosharon, Iowa Colony, Liverpool, and Amsterdam...
. High school aged students attend Alvin High School
Alvin High School
Alvin High School, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Alvin Independent School District.- History :Alvin High School opened in 1894, with its first graduating class graduating in 1897...
or Manvel High School
Manvel High School
Manvel High School is a secondary school located at 19601 Texas State Highway 6 in Manvel, Texas, United States.Manvel High School serves 9th through 12th grade and is part of Alvin Independent School District.- History :...
, based on location. Younger students are also divided by location.
Private Schools available are Texas Preparatory Academy (9-12th) and Living Stones (K-12th)
7th - 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 - 6th 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 - 6th 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
Colleges and universities
Alvin Community College
Alvin Community College is a community college in Brazoria County in the U.S. state of Texas. Alvin Community College provides educational opportunities in workforce training, academics, technical fields, adult basic education, and personal development.As defined by the Texas Legislature, the...
provides basic undergraduate courses and adult education.
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 reopened in June 2011.Transportation
Greyhound Bus Lines operates the Alvin Station at Yellow Jacket Grocery-CitgoCitgo
CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a United States-incorporated, Venezuela-owned refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de...
http://www.greyhound.com/scripts/en/TicketCenter/terminal.asp?city=680097.
Postal services
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Alvin Post Office at 455 East House Street, 77511-9998.
Community information
Thelma Ley Anderson Family YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
is located in Alvin.
The Alvin Rotary Club sponsors a yearly Frontier Day celebration, which includes a parade and 5k Fun Run.
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.