Alba, Texas
Alba is a small town in Wood County, Texas, in East Texas, about 36 miles northwest of Tyler as the crow flies, with a population of about 508. Parts of Alba also extend into Rains County.
Median home $112,500 · Median rent $675/mo Cost of living →
Updated October 2026 · Population: U.S. Census Bureau estimate for July 1, 2024. Land area (1.1 sq mi) and coordinates: U.S. Census Bureau. · Alba on Wikipedia
Coming up near Alba
All events →- Oct29First Monday Trade Days
Canton · ~21 mi · Oct 29 – Nov 1
- Nov6Winnsboro Art & Wine Festival
Winnsboro · ~23 mi · Nov 6 – Nov 7
- Dec3First Monday Trade Days
Canton · ~21 mi · Dec 3 – Dec 6
Dates confirmed on each organizer's site. Check the link before you drive.
Alba from our research
What we've verified about Alba, one line per topic. Each links to the full page and its sources.
- History
- Settled in the 1840s on the western edge of Wood County, grown by the railroad in 1881 and a lignite-coal boom, and now a Lake Fork gateway. Details →
- Dining
- 5 verified places to eat and drink. Details → Source: Texas Comptroller sales-tax permit records, checked place by place
- Schools
- 23 public schools within 12 miles, across 7 districts and charters, mainly Grand Saline ISD, Mineola ISD and Rains ISD. Details → Source: Texas Education Agency AskTED directory — open campuses, enrollment as of Oct 2025
- Utilities
- Wood County Electric Cooperative power (no plan shopping), Atmos gas, City of Alba water and sewer, and internet near Lake Fork. Details →
- Outdoors
- Nearest state parks: Lake Tawakoni (21 mi), Tyler (29 mi), Cooper Lake - South Sulphur Unit (35 mi). Nearest lakes: Lake Fork (7 mi), Lake Holbrook (8 mi). Details → Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
- Contractors
- 1 licensed plumber and 3 licensed electricians serve Alba. Details → Source: TSBPE and TDLR license records, checked business by business
Alba City Limits
The official city boundary and the major highways through Alba.
Major roads: US Hwy 69 · State Hwy 182
Boundary & roads: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line).
FAQ: Alba, Texas
Alba lies in two counties: Rains and Wood, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 place-by-county list.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Alba in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Moving to East Texas: What You Need to Know
Thinking about moving to East Texas? A fact-checked guide to healthcare, schools, getting around, weather, and daily life in Tyler, Jacksonville, and the towns around them.
Read Guide →Things to Do in East Texas
What to do in East Texas, checked against official sources: Tyler's Rose Garden and Caldwell Zoo, Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas State Railroad, state parks, museums and festivals.
Read Guide →Cost of Living in East Texas
What it costs to live in East Texas, using Census figures: home values and rents in Tyler, Jacksonville and Athens compared with Texas and the big metros, plus taxes, utilities, healthcare and driving.
Read Guide →Retiring in East Texas: Why Retirees Love It Here
Retiring in East Texas: Tyler's trauma-designated hospitals, Texas 65+ school-tax exemptions, lake towns like Gun Barrel City and Hideaway, and sourced drive times and weather.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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