ALVIN, TEXAS

Brazoria County, Texas Gulf Coast

29°23'37"N 95°16'18"W (29.393698, -95.271588)
Highway 6 and Highway 35
21 miles NE of Angleton the county seat
25 Miles S of Houston
30 miles NW of Galveston
Population: 26,827 Est. (2018)
24,236 (2010) 21,413 (2000) 19,220 (1990)

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Street Scene showing Alvin State Bank and Gem Drug Store
Old Photo courtesy Dan Whatley Collection
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History in a Pecan Shell

Alvin, named for Alvin Morgan, a railroad cattle shipping agent, dates to the 1860s when it was a flag stop/shipping point on the Santa Fe Railroad. Morgan was the area’s first permanent resident, building his house there in 1879. When a post office application was submitted under Alvin’s last name, it was rejected since another community was using the name of Morgan.

Alvin experienced a population explosion in the 1890s when it went from a meager 100 people to an estimated 2,000 with the span of six years. The early economy was based on agriculture. School classes were first taught in the Methodist church until a separate building could be constructed in the 1890s.

The 1940 population had grown to just over 3,000 people and fifteen years later it was approaching 4,000. Alvin was home to a German Prisoner of War Camp during WWII.

Between 1960 and 1970 Alvin nearly doubled its population, rising to over 10,000. Alvin suffered severe damage from the 1900 Galveston Storm and has been struck by other major storms over the years. Tropical Storm Claudette broke a state record for rain in 1979, producing 43 inches of rain within a single 24-hour period.

Alvin, Texas Landmarks

Photo Gallery

Alvin TX - Restored Santa Fe Railroad Depot

Alvin Restored Santa Fe Railroad Depot
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2012

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2012

Alvin Restored Depot
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2012
More Texas Depot

Toy Train
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2012

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2012

Alvin Welcome Sign
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2012

Alvin Public School Building
Old Photo courtesy Dan Whatley Collection
More Texas Schoolhouses

Alvin City Hall & Fire Station
Courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

People:

From Potential Lyrics for a Johnny Cash Loser Tune to A Turned Around Life by Bill cherry
Rev. Al Jandl & Alvin's enormous Living Stones Church

1907 Brazoria County postal map showing Alvin
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Alvin, Texas Nearby Towns:
Angleton the county seat
Freeport | Galveston | Houston
See Brazoria County | Texas Gulf Coast

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