Region: South Texas Plains
Seat of Jim Wells County, it was first called Bandana, then Collins, and was
finally named Alice after the daughter of Capt. Richard King, who established
the King Ranch. When the Texas Mexican Railroad and the San Antonio &
Aransas Pass Railroad intersected in the city, the community was the world's
largest cattle shipping point from 1888–95. The town is a dividing point between
the brush country to the west and the coastal plains to the east; also between
the border region and the rest of Texas. Oil was discovered in the 1930s, and
the town became a hub for petroleum business. It continues to serve in this
capacity for agribusiness and tourism and as a distribution center for South
Texas. The Beefmaster cattle breed was developed here.
The town's lifestyle is outdoor-oriented. Eleven city parks offer sports
fields, tennis courts, swimming pools and an 18-hole municipal golf course.
Enjoy outdoor band concerts on summer evenings. Hunters seek white-tailed deer,
javelina, wild turkey, quail and dove.
In 2001, Alice was named the birthplace of Tejano music by the Texas
Legislature. The Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame Museum captures the lifestyles
of Tejano music and salutes pioneers of the genre. Exhibits include biographies,
artifacts, musical instruments, photos, stage costumes and more. Open by
appointment. 213 N. Wright St. 210/381-1011.
Annual extravaganzas include Fiesta Bandana, celebrating the first settlement
of the town when it was known as Bandana, in early May; the Hispanic Heritage
Festival in September; and the Jim Wells County Fair in
October.