Alvin

Located in Brazoria County, Alvin, Texas, according to its website, is a city “with a past, a prosperous present and a hopeful future.” Much more than just a bedroom community less than 30 minutes south of Houston, Alvin offers complete city amenities and a well-rounded lifestyle for its residents.

Many of Alvin’s homes date to 1900 when they were built or rebuilt from cypress wood salvaged from wrecked ships after the Great Storm. Alvin boasts one of Texas’ oldest trees, a massive two-hundred-year-old oak located in National Oak Park, written-up in the Guiness Book of World Records. But perhaps Alvin’s greatest claim to fame is its native son, Baseball Hall of Fame-member Nolan Ryan. Recruited to the major leagues right out of Alvin High School, Ryan is one of baseball’s most famous – and popular – players. The Nolan Ryan Foundation and Exhibit Center, completed in 1996 and donated to Alvin Community College, is one of the city’s main attractions.

Alvin Community College is a solid asset to the Alvin community. Founded in the 1940s, ACC is an exemplary two-year public institution offering associate degrees in education, business, computer science and other disciplines. Until 1972, ACC was a part of the Alvin Independent School District, which today offers nine Exemplary schools and 10 Recognized schools as rated by the Texas Education Agency. AISD serves Alvin, Manvel, Iowa Colony, Liverpool, Amsterdam, and parts of Rosharon, Arcola and Pearland. A number of private schools, primarily elementary level, also serve the area.

Although Alvin is a diversified city it continues to support a thriving farm and ranch community. Rice fields and cattle herds are still found west of town on the coastal prairie, as are oil wells.