The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad came through Alba in 1881.
- CountyRains County
- Population473 (2020 U.S. Census)
Alba, Texas gifts and souvenirs: 18 designs made from Alba's own map, landmarks and history, from $16 to $95. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Alba Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Alba Vintage Travel Poster | from $40 |
| Alba Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Alba Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Alba Town Line Mug | from $26 |
| Alba Market Tote | $37 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon
Its landmark photo in a classic travel-poster layout
A local landmark photo as a gallery print
Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back
Soft Bella+Canvas jersey
Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes
Bella+Canvas toddler jersey
Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
A local landmark photo with the town name, 18″×18″
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad came through Alba in 1881.
A gunsmith named Joseph Simpkins was likely the first to settle the area, arriving here with his family from Missouri around 1843. The area was previously alternately known as Albia and Simpkins' Prairie. Theories on how the community got its name differ; one claims it was because the town had been intended for white settlers only while another claims it was named for the son of a railroad official.
The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad came through Alba in 1881. One of the earliest shipments to Alba is reported to have been a telegraph office and, reportedly one of the first telegraphs received told details of the assassination of President James Garfield. Later that year, Alba also received a post office. It closed briefly in 1882 but reopened that same year.
By 1882, a townsite had been laid out and a number of merchants were opened in the area to serve the influx of railroad-tie cutters; population was 50 by 1884 and 300 by 1896.
A lignite coal deposit was discovered near Alba around 1900 and in 1902 and 1903, the Texas Short Line Railway was constructed to ship coal from Alba and nearby Hoyt to Grand Saline in Van Zandt County. By 1911, five area mines produced about 40,000 tons of coal per month. Population was around 1,500 by this year. Unlike other coal mines in the state, those at Alba were forced to use convict labor, because Alba was a sundown town that banned African Americans and Hispanics from living or working there.
By 1990, the boundaries of Alba had expanded in to nearby Rains County, and the city had a population of 489, which dropped to 430 in 2000.
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Alba, Texas, revision 1374586404 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
We share a part of every Alba sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.
Partner with usA favorite landmark, your street, a school or team, an anniversary gift, a different product. Tell us and we'll get back to you by email.
1 free coloring page of Alba, each traced from a photo of a local landmark. Print them at home, at school or for story hour.
Alba's population was 473 in the 2020 U.S. Census, down from 504 in 2010.
A view of Alba