Alvin, city (1990 pop. 19,220), Brazoria co., S Tex.; inc. 1893. The city is chiefly residential but is near an agricultural area where rice, cotton, soybeans, and pecans are raised. Industries include oil and natural gas; rice milling; and the manufacture of concrete, fabricated metal products, and electronic equipment.

Ailey, Alvin, Jr., 1931-89, American modern dancer and choreographer, b. Rogers, Tex. Ailey studied in Los Angeles with Lester Horton, whose strong, dramatic style and views about multiracial casting influenced his choreography and artistic direction. He moved to New York in 1954, where he studied dance with Martha Graham and Charles Weidman and acting with Stella Adler. In 1958 he formed his own company, the American Dance Theater, which, multiracial since 1963, has been internationally acclaimed and has brought recognition to many African-American and Asian dancers. Typically, Ailey's work combines jazz, modern, and African dance elements.

In addition to Revelations (1960), which is generally viewed as his masterpiece, Ailey's best-known works include Blues Suite (1958), Creation of the World (1961), Roots of the Blues (1961), Hermit Songs (1962), Cry (1971), Hidden Rites (1973), Night Creature (1975), and At the Edge of the Precipice (1983). He also choreographed a series of ballets to music by Duke Ellington, notably The River (1970), and created works for other companies, including the American Ballet Theatre, the Joffrey Ballet, the Paris Opéra Ballet, and the La Scala Opera Ballet. After his death, Judith Jamison replaced him as artistic director of his company which, renamed the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, remains highly popular and respected.

(born Dec. 13, 1887, Pall Mall, Tenn., U.S.—died Sept. 2, 1964, Nashville, Tenn.) U.S. World War I hero. He worked as a blacksmith and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1917 after being denied conscientious-objector status. In the Meuse-Argonne offensive (October 1918), his patrol of 17 men was ordered to attack a German machine-gun nest. Pinned down behind enemy lines, he advanced alone to attack the enemy gunners, killing 25 and forcing the others to surrender. As he marched them back to U.S. lines, he captured more German soldiers for a total of 132 prisoners. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor, and his autobiography (1928) was the basis of the movie Sergeant York (1941).

Learn more about York, Alvin C(ullum) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born June 11, 1882, Boston, Mass., U.S.—died Nov. 23, 1966, Rhos-on-Sea, Denbighshire, Wales) U.S.-born British photographer. He did not take up photography seriously until he met Edward Steichen in 1899. In 1902 he opened a studio in New York City and joined the Photo-Secession. In 1904 he went to London with a commission to photograph celebrities; his memorable portraits include those of Auguste Rodin, Henry James, and George Bernard Shaw, the latter posing as Rodin's The Thinker. In 1917, influenced by Cubism and Futurism, he produced the first photographs depicting abstract compositions.

Learn more about Coburn, Alvin Langdon with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born June 11, 1882, Boston, Mass., U.S.—died Nov. 23, 1966, Rhos-on-Sea, Denbighshire, Wales) U.S.-born British photographer. He did not take up photography seriously until he met Edward Steichen in 1899. In 1902 he opened a studio in New York City and joined the Photo-Secession. In 1904 he went to London with a commission to photograph celebrities; his memorable portraits include those of Auguste Rodin, Henry James, and George Bernard Shaw, the latter posing as Rodin's The Thinker. In 1917, influenced by Cubism and Futurism, he produced the first photographs depicting abstract compositions.

Learn more about Coburn, Alvin Langdon with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born Dec. 13, 1887, Pall Mall, Tenn., U.S.—died Sept. 2, 1964, Nashville, Tenn.) U.S. World War I hero. He worked as a blacksmith and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1917 after being denied conscientious-objector status. In the Meuse-Argonne offensive (October 1918), his patrol of 17 men was ordered to attack a German machine-gun nest. Pinned down behind enemy lines, he advanced alone to attack the enemy gunners, killing 25 and forcing the others to surrender. As he marched them back to U.S. lines, he captured more German soldiers for a total of 132 prisoners. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor, and his autobiography (1928) was the basis of the movie Sergeant York (1941).

Learn more about York, Alvin C(ullum) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born Jan. 5, 1931, Rogers, Texas, U.S.—died Dec. 1, 1989, New York, N.Y.) U.S. dancer and choreographer. In 1942 he moved to Los Angeles, where he studied dance and choreography (1949–54). He then moved to New York, where he performed in various theatrical productions. In 1958 he founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, composed primarily of blacks. The numerous works he choreographed for the company included its signature Revelations (1960), set to black spirituals. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the company toured worldwide, and Ailey became one of the best-known U.S. choreographers.

Learn more about Ailey, Alvin, Jr. with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born Jan. 5, 1931, Rogers, Texas, U.S.—died Dec. 1, 1989, New York, N.Y.) U.S. dancer and choreographer. In 1942 he moved to Los Angeles, where he studied dance and choreography (1949–54). He then moved to New York, where he performed in various theatrical productions. In 1958 he founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, composed primarily of blacks. The numerous works he choreographed for the company included its signature Revelations (1960), set to black spirituals. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the company toured worldwide, and Ailey became one of the best-known U.S. choreographers.

Learn more about Ailey, Alvin, Jr. with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Alvin is a village in South Ross Township, Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. It is part of the 'Danville, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 316 at the 2000 census.

History

A settlement was founded in 1872 about a mile south of present-day Alvin, along the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad railroad, and was called Gilbert in honor of the founder, Alvan Gilbert. In 1875, the new Havana, Rantoul and Eastern Railroad (which became the Illinois Central Railroad) crossed the C&EI north of Gilbert, and the town of Alvan was founded at the intersection. Tradition says that the town's name became Alvin (with an "i" instead of an "a") because the post office mis-spelled it and refused to correct the error.

In 1942 a tornado struck Alvin and caused much destruction, killing six people. A marker in the town commemorates the tragic event and reads as follows:

Geography

Alvin is located on County Road 3 about 2 miles north of Bismarck, Illinois. The coordinates are (40.309494, -87.606887).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 316 people, 106 households, and 85 families residing in the village. The population density was 397.2 people per square mile (152.5/km²). There were 115 housing units at an average density of 144.6/sq mi (55.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.78% White, 1.58% Native American, 0.32% Asian, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.

There were 106 households out of which 49.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the village the population was spread out with 34.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $36,000, and the median income for a family was $38,333. Males had a median income of $30,278 versus $18,194 for females. The per capita income for the village was $13,773. About 7.0% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 31.6% of those age 65 or over.

References