In 1845, four miles south of present day Alvin, Elisha and Missouri Thomas, their children and slaves built a homestead of cedar logs in the mustang community. Alvin became one of many towns to be born because of the cattle industry.

In the 1860's, Santa Fe Railroads built a large wooden water storage tank in the immediate vicinity of what is now the historic Santa Fe Depot. During the same period they built holding and loading pens for cattle on the banks of Mustang Bayou. This created a substantial increase in the shipment of cattle to the central and eastern markets of the United States.

An overseer was needed so Santa Fe employed Alvin Morgan of Crowley, Louisiana in 1872. Mr. Morgan then built the first house in Alvin, after purchasing land at the going rate of $1 an acre, on Mustang Bayou between the stock pens and the water storage facility. As more settlers moved to the coastal plains, Morgan constructed a general store and saloon on his property and soon moved a used boxcar from the railroad in to house a post office.

With a census of 49, the citizens incorporated. Feeling a sense of obligation to Alvin Morgan, they named their town Morgan. Later, learning that a Morgan already existed in the state, they chose Mr. Morgan's given name of Alvin.

The cattle industry continued to dominate the economy of Alvin until the early 20^th century when the shipment of other commodities supplemented the income of many Gulf Coast residents. Alvin became one of the leading producers of strawberries. Long distance shipping however presented a problem until C.W. Benson presented the idea of refrigerated railroad cars to Santa Fe. In 1896, the first refrigerated railroad car departed from Alvin loaded with fresh strawberries. Since the refrigeration was provided by large blocks of ice cut from rivers and lakes in the northern states, packed in hay or sawdust and shipped to Alvin, a need for an ice house was created. The first ice house was built on what is the present location of the T.J. Hicks Magnolia Warehouse on Santa Fe Avenue.

Next came the necessity to contain the produce for shipping and W.E. "Watt" Davis created, owned and operated Alvin Box and Material Company. In 1948, rice became one of the major factors of the economy through the inspiration and hard work of R.T. Bob Briscoe and to date, remains one of the "big four" agricultural products in Gulf Coast country. Two rice dryers and two rice mills are located in Alvin and the Briscoe building on South Gordon, built in 1955 was named for Mr. Briscoe.

Oil was discovered in the 1930s in eastern Brazoria County and, until this day, oil and related products play a huge role in the economic life of the area.

Alvin has survived devastating tropical hurricanes and other major disasters because of the true Texas spirit and community pride of its citizens.

Alvin-Manvel Area Chamber of Commerce Home Page

Profile of Alvin

Facts About Alvin

Special Events and Contacts

Tour de Braz Bike Ride & Race

For more information:

	Alvin-Manvel Area Chamber of Commerce
Write:	P.O. Box 2028 Alvin, Texas 77512-2028
E-mail:
Phone:	281-331-3944
Fax:	281-585-8662
Visit:	105 W. Willis Alvin, Texas 77511