Elgin, Texas

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title: "Elgin, Texas" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-in-texas", "cities-in-bastrop-county,-texas", "cities-in-travis-county,-texas", "cities-in-greater-austin", "1901-establishments-in-texas", "populated-places-established-in-1901"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin,_Texas" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
official_name	Elgin, Texas
settlement_type	City
nicknames	Brick Capital of the Southwest;
Sausage Capital of Texas
motto	"Perfectly Situated"
image_skyline	Elgin-tx2016-24(nofsinger-house).jpg
image_caption	Elgin City Hall is located in the historic Dr. I. B. Nofsinger House
image_map	TXMap-doton-Elgin.PNG
mapsize	250px
map_caption	Location of Elgin, Texas
image_map1	Bastrop Elgin.svg
mapsize1	250px
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	United States
subdivision_type1	State
subdivision_name1	Texas
subdivision_type2	Counties
subdivision_name2	Bastrop, Travis
government_type	Home Rule,
Council-Manager form
leader_title	Mayor-at-Large
leader_name	Theresa McShan
leader_title1	City Council
leader_name1	{{Collapsible list
title	City Council
frame_style	border:none; padding: 0;
list_style	text-align:left;display:none;
1	Juan Gonzalez, Mayor Pro-Tem Ward 2
2	Jessica Bega, Ward 1
3	Mary Penson, Ward 1
4	Susie Arreaga, Ward 2 - Appointed
5	Craig Fromme, Ward 3
6	Phillip Thomas, Ward 3
7	Sue Brashar, Ward 4
8	Keith Joesel, Ward 4
government_footnotes
established_title	Incorporated
established_date	1901
unit_pref	Imperial
area_footnotes
area_total_km2	17.15
area_land_km2	17.15
area_water_km2	0.00
area_total_sq_mi	6.62
area_land_sq_mi	6.62
area_water_sq_mi	0.00
population_as_of	2020
population_total	9784
population_density_km2	601.49
timezone	Central (CST)
utc_offset	-6
timezone_DST	CDT
utc_offset_DST	-5
elevation_m	177
elevation_ft	581
coordinates
postal_code_type	ZIP code
postal_code	78621
area_code	512 & 737
blank_name	FIPS code
blank_info	48-23044
blank1_name	GNIS feature ID
blank1_info	1373617
website
population_density_sq_mi	1557.77
::

| official_name = Elgin, Texas | settlement_type = City | nicknames = Brick Capital of the Southwest; Sausage Capital of Texas | motto = "Perfectly Situated"

| government_type = Home Rule, Council-Manager form | leader_title = Mayor-at-Large | leader_name = Theresa McShan | leader_title1 = City Council | leader_name1 = {{Collapsible list | title = City Council | title_style = | frame_style = border:none; padding: 0; | list_style = text-align:left;display:none; | 1 = Juan Gonzalez, Mayor Pro-Tem Ward 2 | 2 = Jessica Bega, Ward 1 | 3 = Mary Penson, Ward 1 | 4 = Susie Arreaga, Ward 2 - Appointed | 5 = Craig Fromme, Ward 3 | 6 = Phillip Thomas, Ward 3 | 7 = Sue Brashar, Ward 4 | 8 = Keith Joesel, Ward 4 | government_footnotes = | established_title = Incorporated | established_date = 1901 | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 17.15 | area_land_km2 = 17.15 | area_water_km2 = 0.00 | area_total_sq_mi = 6.62 | area_land_sq_mi = 6.62 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00

| population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 9784 | population_density_km2 = 601.49

Elgin ( ) is a city in Bastrop County and Travis County in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 9,784 at the 2020 census.

In 1995, the Texas Legislature proclaimed Elgin the "Sausage Capital of Texas". Elgin is also known as the Brick Capital of the Southwest due to the presence of three operating brickyards in the mid-20th century (two of which are still open).

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Downtown_Elgin,_Texas_1916.jpg" caption="Downtown Elgin in 1916"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Elgin_commercial_historic_district_1.jpg" caption="Elgin Commercial Historic District"] ::

In 1871, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad (succeeded by the Southern Pacific Transportation Company) built through the area and established a flag stop called Glasscock named for George W. Glasscock, a local resident and Republic of Texas soldier who lived in the area in the 1830s. Glasscock was renamed on August 18, 1872, for Robert Morris Elgin, the railroad's land commissioner, following the practice of naming new railroad towns after officers of the company. Elgin was established. The original plat placed the train depot in the center of a one-square-mile area.

The original plan for the Houston and Texas Central Railroad was to have run from McDade, 10 mi east of Elgin, southwest to the Colorado River at a point somewhere between Bastrop and Webberville, then to Austin following the river. These plans, however, were thwarted due to a major flood of the Colorado River in 1869, hence the rerouting of the railroad through what is now Elgin.

Elgin was incorporated, received a post office in 1873, and a Baptist Sunday school began meeting in a private home. Much of the town's early population was drawn from nearby Perryville, which the railroad had bypassed. Perryville, or Hogeye as it was nicknamed, was located 2.5 mi to the south. The town was known by three different names: the name Young's Settlement was chosen, probably in honor of the Michael Young family; Perryville, possibly for Perry Young, who was Michael Young's son; and Hogeye. The post office was officially named Young's Settlement, and the churches and Masonic Lodge carried the name Perryville. The name Hogeye was given to the stage stop at the Litton home where dances were held and, according to legend, the fiddler knew only one tune: "Hogeye", which he played over and over as the crowd danced on the puncheon floor.

In 1879, Elgin was described as a "thriving depot town" of 400. It had a newspaper, a gin, and a gristmill. Three years later Methodists erected the first church building in town. In 1884, Elgin had five general stores, two druggists, three cotton gins, and a saloon; that year, Thomas O'Conner started a brick-making enterprise that eventually led Elgin to adopt the epithet "Brick Capital of the Southwest." In 1885, a group of citizens met in Elgin to organize a new north–south railroad which would run from Taylor, the rail head for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas ("Katy") Railroad 16 mi to the north, through Elgin to Bastrop, the county seat, 16 mi to the south. The Taylor, Elgin, and Bastrop Railroad was formed in 1886 and began building the line. That same year, the "Katy" acquired the line and continued the construction on to Houston. Thus, Elgin became the beneficiary of two major rail lines with eight passenger trains daily, adding to Elgin's business as a shipping point for cotton, wool, and livestock. By 1890, Elgin had a population of 1,100 and supported two hotels, a broom factory, two doctors, a dentist, and the Elgin Courier newspaper. The following year oil was discovered 5 mi southeast of town, but the strike was not large. Coal proved better for the economy, when the large coal belt nearby was mined in the early 20th century, bringing Latin-Americans and African-Americans to the area, as both free and slave labor.

The year 1900 resulted in a bumper crop of cotton and Elgin prospered. Elgin grew slowly but steadily through the 20th century, from 1,258 in 1904 to 4,846 in 1990. The city incorporated in 1901, electing Charles Gillespie, building contractor, as mayor, as well as J.D. Hemphill as marshal, W.E. McCullough, J. Wed Davis, Ed Lawhon, Max Hirach, and F.S. Wade as aldermen. Local law enforcement was established to enforce newly established civil and criminal codes. By 1910, Elgin was enjoying a period of great prosperity as families from out on the prairie and surrounding communities moved to town and built nice homes.

By 1940, Elgin was also the site of two big brick and tile plants. Elgin enterprise was stimulated during World War II by the proximity of the army training facility Camp Swift. A third brick company was established in the town in the mid-1950s, lured by the high-quality clay deposits in the area. In addition to the brick plants, a local sausage factory processed thousands of pounds of beef and pork a week; Elgin Hot Sausage continued to enjoy a widespread reputation, and Elgin rapidly became the most important agricultural center in Bastrop County. Five cotton gins and a cotton oil mill were in operation at the same time. Other industries included feed and grain processing and hydraulic press manufacturing.

By the 1980s, proximity to Austin had begun to attract commuters to Elgin. In the mid-1980s, the Elgin Courier was still being published, the sausage had achieved wider fame, and two brick and tile plants were still in operation. Elgin was also the site of a furniture plant and a leather works.

The eastern side of town was heavily damaged by a high-end EF2 tornado on March 21, 2022.

In 2022, city voters approved the decriminalization of possession of misdemeanor amounts of marijuana.

Geography

Elgin is located 25 mi east of downtown Austin and 18 mi north of Bastrop, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and State Highway 95. Most of the city lies in Bastrop County, with a portion extending westward into Travis and Williamson Counties. Most of north Elgin is built on blackland prairie soil.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Elgin has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.

| width = auto | collapsed = | single line = yes | location = Elgin, Texas (1 mile north) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1963–2020) | Jan record high F = 89 | Feb record high F = 98 | Mar record high F = 96 | Apr record high F = 100 | May record high F = 100 | Jun record high F = 107 | Jul record high F = 107 | Aug record high F = 108 | Sep record high F = 110 | Oct record high F = 97 | Nov record high F = 91 | Dec record high F = 86 | year record high F = | Jan high F = 60.8 | Feb high F = 64.3 | Mar high F = 71.3 | Apr high F = 78.5 | May high F = 85.2 | Jun high F = 91.8 | Jul high F = 95.0 | Aug high F = 96.2 | Sep high F = 90.0 | Oct high F = 81.3 | Nov high F = 70.1 | Dec high F = 62.2 | year high F = 78.9 | Jan mean F = 50.0 | Feb mean F = 53.5 | Mar mean F = 60.3 | Apr mean F = 67.6 | May mean F = 75.0 | Jun mean F = 81.5 | Jul mean F = 84.1 | Aug mean F = 84.6 | Sep mean F = 78.9 | Oct mean F = 69.9 | Nov mean F = 59.4 | Dec mean F = 51.7 | year mean F = 68.0 | Jan low F = 39.2 | Feb low F = 42.7 | Mar low F = 49.4 | Apr low F = 56.7 | May low F = 64.8 | Jun low F = 71.2 | Jul low F = 73.3 | Aug low F = 73.0 | Sep low F = 67.9 | Oct low F = 58.4 | Nov low F = 48.7 | Dec low F = 41.1 | year low F = 57.2 | Jan record low F = 7 | Feb record low F = 10 | Mar record low F = 17 | Apr record low F = 33 | May record low F = 42 | Jun record low F = 54 | Jul record low F = 62 | Aug record low F = 59 | Sep record low F = 44 | Oct record low F = 29 | Nov record low F = 21 | Dec record low F = 0 | year record low F = | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 2.96 | Feb precipitation inch = 2.06 | Mar precipitation inch = 3.15 | Apr precipitation inch = 2.73 | May precipitation inch = 4.86 | Jun precipitation inch = 2.98 | Jul precipitation inch = 1.97 | Aug precipitation inch = 2.32 | Sep precipitation inch = 2.97 | Oct precipitation inch = 4.02 | Nov precipitation inch = 3.07 | Dec precipitation inch = 3.00 | year precipitation inch = 36.09 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in | Jan precipitation days = 5.7 | Feb precipitation days = 5.8 | Mar precipitation days = 6.8 | Apr precipitation days = 5.2 | May precipitation days = 6.0 | Jun precipitation days = 5.9 | Jul precipitation days = 4.4 | Aug precipitation days = 3.8 | Sep precipitation days = 5.5 | Oct precipitation days = 5.8 | Nov precipitation days = 4.8 | Dec precipitation days = 5.7 | year precipitation days = 65.4 | Jan snow inch = 0.0 | Feb snow inch = 0.0 | Mar snow inch = 0.0 | Apr snow inch = 0.0 | May snow inch = 0.0 | Jun snow inch = 0.0 | Jul snow inch = 0.0 | Aug snow inch = 0.0 | Sep snow inch = 0.0 | Oct snow inch = 0.0 | Nov snow inch = 0.0 | Dec snow inch = 0.0 | year snow inch = 0.0 | unit snow days = 0.1 in | Jan snow days = 0.1 | Feb snow days = 0.0 | Mar snow days = 0.0 | Apr snow days = 0.0 | May snow days = 0.0 | Jun snow days = 0.0 | Jul snow days = 0.0 | Aug snow days = 0.0 | Sep snow days = 0.0 | Oct snow days = 0.0 | Nov snow days = 0.0 | Dec snow days = 0.0 | year snow days = 0.0 | source = NOAA{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ewx |title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = November 5, 2023}}{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00412820&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = November 5, 2023}}

Demographics

|1910= 1707 |1920= 1630 |1930= 1823 |1940= 2008 |1950= 3168 |1960= 3511 |1970= 3832 |1980= 4535 |1990= 4846 |2000= 5700 |2010= 8135 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census |2020=9784}}

::data[format=table title="'''Elgin racial composition as of 2020'''{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4823044&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=data.census.gov}}
(NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.https://www.census.gov {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}}}"]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	3,101	31.69%
Black or African American (NH)	1,538	15.72%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	11	0.11%
Asian (NH)	47	0.48%
Some Other Race (NH)	34	0.35%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	302	3.09%
Hispanic or Latino	4,751	48.56%
Total	9,784
::

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,784 people, 3,033 households, and 2,158 families residing in the city.

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,135 people. The population density was 1,402.6 PD/sqmi. There were 2,948 housing units at an average density of 508.3 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 57.14% White, 17.30% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 20.12% from other races, and 3.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 45.67% of the population.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,869 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% 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 3.50.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,750, and the median income for a family was $48,125. Males had a median income of $31,368 versus $21,095 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,698. About 10.4% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 21.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Elgin_tx_post_office.jpg" caption="Elgin Post Office"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Elgin_tx_post_office_mural.jpg" caption="''Texas Farm'', the mural in the post office"] ::

The Chamber of Commerce is located in the original 1872 Houston and Texas Central Railroad building.

The mural Texas Farm, by Julius Woeltz, is located in the Elgin Post Office. Created as part of the 1930s Federal Arts Project, it depicts men harvesting vegetables and picking corn.

Sports

In 2006, the Elgin Major Girls softball team finished third in the Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon. In 2007, the Elgin Little League's Major Girls' softball All-Stars finished in second place in the Little League World Series.

Education

Elgin is served by the Elgin Independent School District, which covers more than 168 sqmi in portions of Bastrop, Lee, Williamson, and Travis Counties. It served approximately 4,000 students as of 2010.

A branch of Austin Community College opened in Elgin in 2013.

Media

Radio station

KTAE (AM)

Movies filmed in Elgin include:

1974 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
1975 The Great Waldo Pepper
1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
1993 What's Eating Gilbert Grape
1993 A Perfect World
1995 The Big Green
1996 Michael
1999 Varsity Blues
2002 25th Hour
2002 *The New Guy *
2003 The Alamo
2006 A Scanner Darkly
2014 Transformers: Age of Extinction
2015 My All American
2018 Fear the Walking Dead
2019 Mercy Black

Notable people

Ray Culp, Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher
Jake Helgren, Film director, producer and screenwriter
Chester Snowden, Artist and illustrator
Otho Davis, Football trainer
Erika Thompson, Beekeeper

Notes

References

"City Council". The City of Elgin.
"2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
"U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
(2007-10-25). "US Board on Geographic Names". [[United States Geological Survey]].
"Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Elgin city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder.
"Official Capital Designations".
[http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/74R/billtext/html/HR00705F.htm House Resolution 705, 74th regular session of the Texas Legislature.]
elgintexas.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1101/sausagecaptlRESOLUTION?bidId=
[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hrpln Handbook of Texas Online entry on Perryville.] Retrieved 2008-11-13.
(2022). "Texas Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information.
(9 November 2022). "San Marcos, Elgin voters approve ballot measures to decriminalize marijuana within city limits". kvue.com.
Google Maps
Paula Mitchell Marks. "ELGIN, TEXAS". The Handbook of Texas Online.
[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=28214&cityname=Elgin%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Elgin, Texas]
"Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
"Explore Census Data".
https://www.census.gov {{nonspecific. (August 2022)
"About the Hispanic Population and its Origin".
(August 2019)
Smith, Mark L.. (2017-01-17). "Post office mural rooted in Elgin, art history". [[Elgin Courier]].
[http://www.elgincourier.com/articles/2007/08/08/news/sports/sports01.txt ''Elgin Courier'']{{Dead link. (August 2019)
[http://www.elgintx.com/education.asp City of Elgin-Education.] {{Webarchive. link. (2008-10-20 Retrieved on 2008-11-12.)
[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.166. AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]
"ACC opens its ninth campus in Elgin {{!}} kvue.com Austin".
"Movies in Elgin".

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