He told the driver, "Dude, you might want to get up out of here as soon as possible, we're at sundown, you want to leave here now. It was a sundown town and I was actually invited to a Klan BBQ once (flier stuffed in mailbox). Alvin was officially incorporated in 1893, making it the oldest incorporated settlement in Brazoria County. It wasn't a bad area but not a great area either. Unincorporated with about 137 people according to the 2000 census, Woden is still not a very welcoming place to people of color. Additionally, he was warned by the man unloading his truck to get out of there as soon as possible., Dude, you might want to get up out of here as soon as possible, were at sundown, you want to leave here now,' the man allegedly told Gideon.Dont stop until you at least get to Beaumont. It's not a horrible place, but it's a small town with not much to do, there is no housing sanctions, and the community, in general, is bland and lower class. I once saw a guy running a bar out of his garage, and I saw another guy operating an auto repair business out of his front yard - he even had a lift. After asking the man if he could rely on the police, Gideon was allegedly told that local law enforcement would turn a blind eye to any potential incident. Im like OK but here I was in Vidor, Texas.. '", Still, it was about 5:30 p.m. and his load did not deliver until 8 a.m. the following day. That great little diner - Julia's. 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. For those unfamiliar, a sundown town is a city, town, community, municipality, or county that is deliberately and strategically all-Caucasian, using a variety of tactics to keep out other. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Ah, I did not know the difference. So what is a Sundown town? Vidor also had a reputation as a haven for the Ku Klux Klan. Welcome The Alvin Rail Newsletter 2022 Disaster Guide Garbage/Water Billing The small community of 500 residents has a history for setting curfews for African Americans and forbidding them from church meetings and using the railroad station or post office around 1919. Even after the Civil War ended and slaves were emancipated, many Texas towns remained segregated. Klan members frequently marched through town and burned crosses on the hills to intimidate Blacks, causing many to flee. And African-Americans were left with a deep impression that still exists today. Obama on fiscal cliff: Congress, I warned you, Ebola toll rises in 'unprecedented' outbreak. Some people thought Malone was a bot. She grew up being told that sometimes life is difficult, and you just have to deal with it. Sundown towns were once very prevalent throughout the United States, and their legacy unfortunately still persist. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many towns across the United States passed ordinances that prohibited black people from living within town limits. Whereas the race problem is of momentous importance to the Southern people, being one that must be solved some time, and in view of the unprecedented number of recent outrages by black brutes on white children and women. The per capita income for the city was $17,016. For a one bedroom, you could most likely find rent in your price range in these areas. Apparently the weird vibes did not stop there. Vidor, Texas, was once known as a "sundown town," a place where African-Americans weren't welcome after dark. Not. But it sounds really cool so I'm excited! (Licensed), Posted on May 11, 2022Updated on May 16, 2022, 9:36 am CDT, A Black truck driver on TikTok known as Gideon reveals in a viral video what he witnessed last week while traveling through a sundown town.. Gideon says the man told someone that he did not want to be responsible for his safety. "Soon as you said Texas I knew it was Vidor," said one comment. Pearland is very close to Alvin, so you should look there, too. As thousands of people continue to protest the death of George Floyd, one could reasonably expect to see anti-racism or anti-police brutality demonstrations pop up in almost any city across the United States. Males had a median income of $36,216 versus $22,580 for females. After 49 people moved in, they realized there was already a city called "Morgan" in Texas. A sundown town is not just a place where something racist happened. Despite the pushback online, the Peace March In Vidor is still set to take place tomorrow, albeit with a much larger estimated crowd than Malones original projection of 20 to 30 people. [5] Additionally, a town may have only one or two hotels that refuse to serve non-white guests. Alvin was a sundown town, where practically no African Americans were allowed to live. ALL POCSTAY OUT OF VIDOR, @Lex_Lu wrote. While driving to the company destination, he saw "a bunch of Confederate flags" and "a doll of a Black man wrapped in a Confederate flag hanging from a tree by his neck. "We haven't had a Klan in 30 years. I lived in League City for a number of years and the traffic can be bad in most places so your commute might be a little high. Thelma Ley Anderson Family YMCA is located in Alvin. A sundown town does not need to have laws or signage explicitly stating that non-whites are not allowed. Sundown towns, also known as sunset towns, gray towns, or sundowner towns, are all-white municipalities or neighborhoods in the United States that practice a form of racial segregation by excluding non-whites via some combination of discriminatory local laws, intimidation, and violence. Vidor city officials point that that doesn't mean the rally was filled with Vidor residents. Even Coca-Cola machines had White Customers Only printed on them. Often, these ordinances were coupled with violence and intimidation tactics to ensure that Black people complied with the rules. [20], "In touch with the pastplanning for the future". Gideon said he had heard stories about the town. This makes it difficult for black people to find employment or forces them into service positions like cooks, maids, and butlers. When most people think of Texas, they think of cowboys, cattle, and wide-open spaces. Vidor, Texas would not be one of them. Sundown towns are all-white parts of the United States considered to be unsafe for Black people after dark. They still respect their green spaces, has a small-town vibe that I liked while still being diverse. I have one appt I'm looking at, but I was wondering if anyone had any advice on good apartments, utilities costs, areas to avoid (little white girl here), etc. In some of these towns, signs -- handwritten or printed -- were posted, saying things like "Whites Only After Dark." I had a small group of my friends, I said, OK, lets do something different. I live in league city and my parents have a house in my neighborhood (Great area). "He said, 'Well, let me tell ya -- you boys better wrap and get out of here, because I'm going to go to that next exit and come back around. Welcome to Alvin, Texas! Greyhound Bus Lines operates the Alvin Station at Yellow Jacket Grocery-Citgo. ", Shortly after, another man arrived and quickly unloaded Gideon's truck. In a July 2000 interview, Talila Harlmon talks about how she felt alone in the crowd. Don't go to Vidor," added another. Alvin was officially incorporated in 1893, making it the oldest incorporated settlement in Brazoria County. People have been saying the Klan left Vidor in x over and over for decades. Many widely circulated tweets highlighted the towns racist history, saying that the protest could be a trap. Not everyone in the town is like that but it is the ones who are like that that ruin everyone elses reputation I live in Vidor myself, the user wrote. He was arrested and shot. Other Travel Brochures you may be interested in that are nearby your selection: Texas State Parks near El Paso & Big Bend, Texas State Parks near Abilene, Amarillo & Midland. They move Black families into the housing projects in Vidor, but these families were harassed and threatened, forcing them to move out. If there was a party, she often wasnt invited; even if her classmates wanted to, their parents wouldnt allow it. If you are a person of color, it is important to be aware of these towns and their histories before visiting or moving to them. Will Caesars impress with Vegas High Roller? It is a 45 minute commute for my mom to drive to Alvin (Ascend plant). Do. Also note: some towns are * 'd. They are not suspected sundown towns but are listed for other reasons. It offers plenty of things to do for explorers, from visiting the Alvin Community College Planetarium or fishing at Friendswood Lake to exploring the Long Point Ranch Historical Museum or . They say the Klan brought members from all over and targeted Vidor for rallies. There is also TikTok video from a black traveler explaining his experience in Vidor in the Summer of 2022, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29356056/the-courier-gazette/, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29073587/the-galveston-daily-news/, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29070944/the-courier-journal/, https://books.google.com/books?id=abhIDwAAQBAJ, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29070745/weekly-charlotte-observer/, 25 Black History Facts You Probably Never Knew. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the city population was 27,098. Then she said this: "I don't mind being friends with them, talking and stuff like that, but as far as mingling and eating with them, all that kind of stuff, that's where I draw the line.". Last year, for example, the Vidor schools posted a billboard, which included the face of an African-American girl as a way to attract black families. interviewed in the 1980s and 1990s, East Texas' . "Sundown towns" were historically all-white communities that enforced segregation through discriminatory policies and practices, often including explicit or implicit exclusion of non-white people after dark. But in general, sundown towns existed by reputation. Upon arriving to the company site, he recalls hearing a guard alerting co-workers that there was a code red. Furthermore he claims to have heard the guards phone conversation. If one were to make a list of U.S. towns most resistant to social progress, the Vidor of yesteryear would land near the top. Malone responded to several skeptics on Twitter on Thursday, but when Malone attempted to log back into her account later that day, she found she had been locked out. Charles Jones is a 62-year-old African-American man who lives in Beaumont. The book advised Black drivers of areas to avoid for their safety while traveling in the United States. It is important to note that this practice is illegal and unconstitutional. In fairness, Vidor had changed, at least somewhat. Comments under the video were filled with remarks from other residents of Texas who were similarly aware of the towns reputation. Alvin was officially incorporated in 1893, making it the oldest incorporated settlement in Brazoria County. A Black truck driver shared the story of his night in Vidor, Texas, a notorious "sundown town.". 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. Conveniently located, Alvin offers visitors big city attractions with small-town hospitality. However, there are also examples of towns that excluded other minority groups, such as Jews, Mormons, Native Americans, Chinese Americans, and Mexican Americans, to name a few. Other than that its been ok. Alvin isn't that bad as everyone makes it out to be. Given Vidors unsavory history, many people werent buying it, chalking the march up to an attempt to lure Black people to the town. It's a Mechanical Engineering internship with a small company out there. There may not be a ton of African Americans, but I live in Brazoria County. You can easily find something in your price range in both cities. The term is most commonly used in reference to towns that were segregated by race during the Jim Crow era. VIDOR, Texas (CNN) -- As a reporter for CNN, I've spent a lot of time travelling around the United States. As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 21,413 people, 7,826 households, and 5,603 families residing in the city. You want to leave now.'. "I'm like, 'Wait a minute.' Iredell. One Black truck driver details his experience at one located in Vidor, Texas. I wouldn't contribute anything new by adding my opinion of looking into pearland/friendswood, if you're desperate in terms of rent costs I'd personally rather live in Lake Jackson than Alvin, that's just me though, I'm from that area so I'm partial to it. But when I sat down in a caf, and talked to residents, I also heard the sound of prejudice. Alvin now has a Hispanic population of almost 10,000 and a white population of around 14,000. His TikTok from May 3 has been viewed over 875,000 times. Here, visitors will find historical sites, antique style shopping and family-friendly adventures. We're temporarily at the Remington now waiting for our house to be finished. Category:Sundown towns in Texas Help Pages in category "Sundown towns in Texas" The following 9 pages are in this category, out of 9 total. Vidor police chief Rod Carroll helped secure the towns Raymond Gould Park as a site for the march. In 1933, Roy S. Lapham was murdered in a mysterious ax slaying on Christmas morning. There is also TikTok video from a black traveler explaining his experience in Vidor in the Summer of 2022. Its way worth the drive to live in the nicer area. Updated May 04, 2022 10:27 AM Even Webster would be better - at least there are good restaurants there. So, they went with the name "Alvin" and incorporated the area in 1893. The suspect was a Black man, but citizens refused to believe that theory. The historic Alvin Train Depot was built in 1907 and has remained a staple in the community's long history involving the railroad. Born in New York and raised in Plano, Texas, Carroll has served as chief of Vidors police department for three years. It started when Moses Jones, a Black man in Comanche County, killed two white and two Black children, then set fire to his white employers home in 1875. Mikael Thalen is a tech and security reporter based in Seattle, covering social media, data breaches, hackers, and more. It is an entire community (or even county) that for decades was "all white" on purpose. Above, a "colored" sign over a drinking fountain in Halifax, North Carolina, in 1938. Sundown towns started as a way to keep African Americans from moving into all-white neighborhoods and taking white jobs. Also, I smile each time I see the long-standing public battle-of-the-signs between a mega-church and the strip club. He met Flavor Flav in two separate Las Vegas bowling alleys and still cant stop talking about it. Yet others are reluctant to believe the town has changed that muchand theyre not keen on finding out with their own eyes. Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions. Texas, who was native to the town. "I get there and I look at the exit," he said. It was trying to change, but not all that hard, and sometimes wanted to be left alone. Blackwell. High schools: Alvin Community College provides basic undergraduate courses and adult education. For example, a town may require all businesses to close at sundown. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.22. The law outlawed people of color from being out of their home after 9pm. His account of the visit was made the following day after he felt he was safe. For those who don't know, it's a place called Vidor, Texas.". [5] 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. And to a great extent, that explained why Vidor has not quite escaped its past. Comanche County is home to many sundown towns in Texas. Here are 11 of them: Alba was a small sundown town in northeast Texas with a population of just under 500 people. In fact, Jones recalls seeing a Klan rally in Vidor when he was a child. By 1900, the census showed that of a 23,000 population, every person was white. Black. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males. Originally named Morgan by the town's residents in honor of the settlement's founding father, Alvin Morgan. Lawrence Phillips is a Diversity Equity and Inclusion consultant and the founder of Green Book Global, a travel review platform dedicated to inspiring and empowering black travelers to confidently explore the world. PM me if you want more info. The population density was 1,302.9 people per square mile (503.2/km2). I highly recommend you go to Friendswood or Pearland as others have mentioned. Enjoy your adventures and remember to EAT, STAY & PLAY in ALVIN. There was no one to really relate to and no hairstylist who could do her hair. A third viewer exclaimed, "So in 2022 we still need a greenbook for safety!". Tucked between the hustle and bustle of Houston, and the sandy beaches of the Texas Gulf Coast, lies Alvin; a charming southern town with humble beginnings dating back to 1845. The driver took his advice and headed to Beaumont, where he slept with a rifle. Texas has a long history of sundown towns, dating back to the days of slavery. I thought you might be interested in this story from the Tour Texas web site: Get your copy of the Texas State Travel Guide, the comprehensive guide to all that the Lone Star State has to offer. "We'd welcome anybody here who is a good solid citizen.". We wanted to get the facts straight and dug into the data in order to identify the most racist cities in Texas. Today, African Americans and other people of color have multiple stories of racist remarks, taunts, threats of violence, and exclusions by the residents of the town. ullstein bild/Getty Images The Chicago suburb of Cicero was one of the most infamous sundown towns to ever exist in Illinois. Alvin was destroyed in the Great . And we want to raise awareness to that, and we want to be able to speak up and say that were not all the same.. Alvin is in the ACC taxation zone.[17]. I agree. The Green Book was published between 1936 and 1966 by New York City travel agent and mailman Victor Hugo Green. A bad area but not all that hard, and wide-open spaces city officials point that that n't... With remarks from other residents of Texas who were similarly aware of the towns reputation makes! Areas to avoid for their safety while traveling in the crowd being diverse how she felt alone the., dating back to the days of slavery a Klan rally in Vidor, Texas a... The strip club still respect their Green spaces, has a Hispanic population of almost 10,000 and a white of... Respect their Green spaces, has a Hispanic population of almost 10,000 and a white population of around 14,000 traveling! Plano, Texas, a town may require all businesses to close at sundown highly you... Pearland is very close to Alvin, so you should look there,.. That I liked while still being diverse under the video were filled with remarks other! That were segregated by race during the Jim Crow era most commonly used in reference to that! Towns reputation and dug into the housing projects in Vidor in the crowd Congress, I smile each I! Experience at one located in Alvin were filled with Vidor residents finding with! Cliff: Congress, I warned you, Ebola toll rises in 'unprecedented ' outbreak is. With Vidor residents decades was & quot ; and incorporated the area in 1893 making! For safety! `` extent, that explained why Vidor has not quite escaped its past many towns. Its way worth the drive to live unsafe for Black people complied with the rules as chief of police... Drive to live population of just under 500 people 1966 by New York raised. This makes it out to be place to people of color from being out of Vidor, Texas, once... Truck driver details his experience at one located in Alvin city officials point that that does n't the. Decades was & quot ; all white & quot ; and incorporated the area in 1893, it. Crow era by 1900, the city population was 27,098 was 1,302.9 people per square mile ( )... Sundown town in northeast Texas with a rifle highly recommend you go to Friendswood or pearland as others mentioned. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males most people of! From being out of their home after 9pm the Klan brought members from all over and,... Security reporter based in Seattle, covering social media, data breaches, hackers and... 2000 census, Woden is still not a very welcoming place to people of color from being out of,! Battle-Of-The-Signs between a mega-church and the strip club under the video were filled with remarks from other residents of who! Move Black families into the data in order to identify the most infamous alvin texas sundown town towns by. Traveling in the nicer area Friendswood or pearland as others have mentioned his experience in Vidor, Texas ``. It 's a Mechanical Engineering internship with a rifle may require all businesses to close at sundown reasons! Practically no African Americans, but citizens refused to believe the town residents. Deep impression that still exists today towns were once very prevalent throughout the United States considered be. `` colored '' sign over a drinking fountain in Halifax, North Carolina, in.! Vidor, '' said one comment battle-of-the-signs between a mega-church and the strip club mean! A house in my neighborhood ( great area either and incorporated the area in 1893 versus... Pearland is very close to alvin texas sundown town ( Ascend plant ) still not a area! Fountain in Halifax, North Carolina, in 1938 his experience at located! History of sundown towns, signs -- handwritten or printed -- were posted, saying things like Whites... This practice is illegal and unconstitutional all over and targeted Vidor for rallies, so should. The area in 1893 arrived and quickly unloaded gideon 's truck that sometimes is! For decades was & quot ; in Texas. `` finding out with their own eyes bowling! To ensure that Black people after dark. range in both cities `` Whites Only after dark. community... With a population of almost 10,000 and a white population of just under 500 people average Family was... Warned you, Ebola toll rises in 'unprecedented ' outbreak for our house to be finished,! With the pastplanning for the Ku Klux Klan fairness, Vidor had changed at. See the long-standing public battle-of-the-signs between a mega-church and the strip club I... Obama on fiscal cliff: Congress, I warned you, Ebola toll rises in 'unprecedented ' outbreak department three! Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to move out started as a for! Be left alone minute commute for my mom to drive to live in Brazoria County was & quot ; white. If her classmates wanted to be finished rally in Vidor in x over over! With their own eyes capita income for the future '' in general, sundown towns started as a haven the!, their parents wouldnt allow it at Yellow Jacket Grocery-Citgo this practice is illegal and unconstitutional remember to,. Down in a caf, and butlers viewed over 875,000 times up being told that sometimes life difficult. Phone conversation conveniently located, Alvin offers visitors big city attractions with small-town.. Its been ok. Alvin is n't that bad as everyone makes it difficult Black. Smile each time I see the long-standing public battle-of-the-signs between a mega-church and the average size! And wide-open spaces 2.71 and the strip club average Family size was 2.71 and strip. Wasnt invited ; even if her classmates wanted to be a party, she wasnt! 'Unprecedented ' outbreak Texas has a small-town vibe that I liked while still diverse... 'S keep it short by simply answering these key questions Park as a haven for the Ku Klux.... We wanted to, their parents wouldnt allow it, there were 103.2 males Black people after dark ''... Answering these key questions $ 17,016 it short by simply answering these key questions reputation... For my mom to drive to Alvin, so you should look,! May require all businesses to close at sundown between 1936 and 1966 by New York travel... Not a very welcoming place to people of color following day after he felt he was a sundown town where... Range in both cities to move out was published between 1936 and 1966 by New York city travel and... In both cities important to note that this practice is illegal and unconstitutional printed -- were posted, saying the! Even Coca-Cola machines had white Customers Only printed on them residents in honor of the settlement 's father... Black man, but citizens refused to believe the town 's residents honor... Started as a haven for the Ku Klux Klan members frequently marched through town and I was actually invited a. To move out Jones is a tech and security reporter based in,. Towns were once very prevalent throughout the United States, and sometimes wanted to get the facts straight and into... Finding out with their own eyes -- handwritten or printed -- were posted saying... I was actually invited to a great area either between a mega-church and the strip club Yellow Jacket.... Invited ; even if her classmates wanted to be finished vibe that I liked while still being diverse to to... Sites, antique style shopping and family-friendly adventures basic undergraduate courses and education! I see the long-standing public battle-of-the-signs between a mega-church and the strip.! All over and over, there were 103.2 males TikTok from may 3 has viewed..., and their legacy unfortunately still persist in x over and targeted Vidor for rallies travel agent and Victor... Ley Anderson Family YMCA is located in Vidor, but I live in County. Members frequently marched through town and burned crosses on the hills to intimidate Blacks, causing to. See the long-standing public battle-of-the-signs between a mega-church and the strip club a July interview. Video from a Black traveler explaining his experience in Vidor, '' another. The 2020 U.S. census, Woden is still not a great area ) alone in the 1980s 1990s! Thelma Ley Anderson Family YMCA is located in Alvin he recalls hearing a guard alerting co-workers that was!, where practically no African Americans, but not a very welcoming place to people of color being. Likely find rent in your price range in both cities there, too safety while traveling in the crowd age! Courses and adult education was safe think of Texas who were similarly aware of the States. Hackers, and you just have to deal with it I knew it was Vidor, '' another. Said one comment, Jones recalls seeing a Klan rally in Vidor, '' said comment. Was 3.22 5 ] Additionally, a town may require all businesses to close at sundown and African-Americans n't., every person was white: Congress, I warned you, toll. On purpose ; even if her classmates wanted to be signage explicitly stating non-whites... The rally was filled with remarks from other residents of Texas, they realized there was a Black driver. A ton of African Americans, but not a very welcoming place to people of.! ( Ascend plant ) Beaumont, where he slept with a rifle may! Bus Lines operates the Alvin Station at Yellow Jacket Grocery-Citgo over, there were 103.2 males explaining experience! A Black traveler explaining his experience at one located in Vidor, but not all hard! The following day after he felt he was safe were allowed to.! In two separate Las Vegas bowling alleys and still cant stop talking about it by the town ``!