Elgin, Texas
Encyclopedia
Elgin is a city in Bastrop
and Travis
Counties in the U.S. state
of Texas
. The population was 5,700 at the 2000 census. By 2005, the population grew to an estimated 8,689. Elgin is also known as The Sausage Capital of Texas and the Brick Capital of the Southwest due to the presence of three operating brickyards in the mid-twentieth century (two of which are open to this date).
. Most of the city lies in Bastrop County, with an expanding portion into Travis County. Bastrop County also borders Williamson, Lee, Caldwell and Fayette counties.
Elgin is at the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and State Highway 95. Most of north Elgin is predominated by blackland prairie soil
, suited for growing cotton
, maize
and corn
.
in 1869. Originally, the railroad was to have run from McDade
, ten miles (16 km) east of Elgin, southwest to the Colorado River at a point somewhere between Bastrop
and Webberville
, then to Austin
following the river.
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. Glassock 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. The City of Elgin was created. The original plat placed the train depot in the center of a one square mile area.
Elgin was incorporated and received a post office the following year, and a Baptist Sunday school began meeting in a private home. Much of the community's early population was drawn from nearby Perryville, which the railroad had bypassed. Perryville, or Hogeye as it was nicknamed, was located 2.5 miles (4 km) to the south. The community 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 the community 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 gin
s, 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 miles (25.7 km) to the north, through Elgin to Bastrop, the county seat, 16 miles (25.7 km) to the south. The Taylor, Elgin and Bastrop Railroad were 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 the community had a population of 1,100 and supported two hotels, a broom factory, two doctors, a dentist, and the Elgin Courier newspaper. The next year oil
was discovered five miles (8 km) 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 twentieth century, bringing Latin American and African American citizens to the area.
The year 1900 produced a bumper crop of cotton
and Elgin prospered. Elgin grew slowly but steadily through the twentieth 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, Marshal; W.E. McCullough, J. Wed Davis, Ed Lawhon, Max Hirach, and F.S. Wade, 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 Elgin and built nice homes.
By 1940 Elgin was not only the center of a farming community but 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. Elgin rapidly became the most important agricultural center in Bastrop County. Five cotton gin
s 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. In 2000 the population was 5,700.
in 1996. Within the 14-block district, 67 buildings are considered contributing structures. A contributing structure is one, which as maintained its architectural integrity. Southside includes Central Avenue and Avenue C in the downtown district. There are five buildings under restoration in the Southside area.
Elgin became a Texas Main Street city in 1990, and in 1999, 2000 and 2001 was selected as a National Main Street Community. Main Street is a national approach to saving our heritage by preserving historic downtown areas. Each year three cities are selected by the Texas Historical Commission
and Anice Read Main Street Center to become Main Street Cities. Communities make a commitment to hire a staff person, provide office space, supplies, and a small budget. The primary commitment is to preserving and revitalizing the historic commercial business district. Volunteerism is a key part of the success of any Main Street program.
. The Elgin Independent School District comprises more than 168 square miles (435.1 km²) in portions of Bastrop, Lee,Williamson and Travis Counties and provide educational facilities and resources to meet the needs of more than 4000 students in 2010. Elgin's mascot is the wildcat.
Bastrop County, Texas
Bastrop County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2006, the population was 71,700. Its county seat is Bastrop. Bastrop County is named for Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop , an early Dutch settler who assisted Stephen F...
and Travis
Travis County, Texas
As of 2009, the U.S. census estimates there were 1,026,158 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 821 people per square mile . There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile...
Counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The population was 5,700 at the 2000 census. By 2005, the population grew to an estimated 8,689. Elgin is also known as The Sausage Capital of Texas and the Brick Capital of the Southwest due to the presence of three operating brickyards in the mid-twentieth century (two of which are open to this date).
Geography
Elgin is located 19 miles (30.6 km) miles east of Austin and 15 miles (24.1 km) north of BastropBastrop, Texas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there are 5340 people in Bastrop, organized into 2034 households and 1336 families. The population density is 734.8 people per square mile . There are 2,239 housing units at an average density of 308.1 per square mile...
. Most of the city lies in Bastrop County, with an expanding portion into Travis County. Bastrop County also borders Williamson, Lee, Caldwell and Fayette counties.
Elgin is at the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and State Highway 95. Most of north Elgin is predominated by blackland prairie soil
Texas blackland prairies
The Texas Blackland Prairies are a temperate grassland ecoregion located in Texas that runs roughly from the Red River in North Texas to San Antonio in the south.-Setting:...
, suited for growing cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and corn
Field corn
Field corn is maize of varieties that are not, in the United States, grown primarily for consumption as human food in the form of fresh kernels. More than 98% of corn-growing land in the U.S...
.
History
The City of Elgin owes its existence to a major flood of the Colorado RiverColorado River (Texas)
The Colorado River is a river that runs through the U.S. state of Texas; it should not be confused with the much longer Colorado River which flows from Colorado into the Gulf of California....
in 1869. Originally, the railroad was to have run from McDade
McDade, Texas
McDade is an unincorporated community in northern Bastrop County, Texas, United States located along US Hwy 290.The McDade Independent School District serves area students....
, ten miles (16 km) east of Elgin, southwest to the Colorado River at a point somewhere between Bastrop
Bastrop, Texas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there are 5340 people in Bastrop, organized into 2034 households and 1336 families. The population density is 734.8 people per square mile . There are 2,239 housing units at an average density of 308.1 per square mile...
and Webberville
Webberville, Texas
Webberville is a village in Travis County, Texas . Its population was 336, according to a 2008 census estimate.Comprising settlements dating back to 1827, Webber's Prairie was formally established by retired physician John Ferdinand Webber in 1839...
, then to Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
following the river.
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. Glassock 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. The City of Elgin was created. The original plat placed the train depot in the center of a one square mile area.
Elgin was incorporated and received a post office the following year, and a Baptist Sunday school began meeting in a private home. Much of the community's early population was drawn from nearby Perryville, which the railroad had bypassed. Perryville, or Hogeye as it was nicknamed, was located 2.5 miles (4 km) to the south. The community 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
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
carried the name Perryville. The name Hogeye was given to the stage stop at the Litton home where the community 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
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
. Three years later Methodists
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
erected the first church building in town. In 1884 Elgin had five general stores, two druggists, three cotton gin
Cotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
s, 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
Taylor, Texas
Taylor is a city in Williamson County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,575 at the 2000 census; it was 15,191 in the 2010 census estimate. Taylors largest employers include the Electric Reliability Council of Texas , Durcon Inc, and the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, an immigration...
, the rail head for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas (“Katy”) Railroad
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad
The Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad was incorporated May 23, 1870. In its earliest days the MKT was commonly referred to as "the K-T", which was its stock exchange symbol; this common designation soon evolved into "the Katy"....
16 miles (25.7 km) to the north, through Elgin to Bastrop, the county seat, 16 miles (25.7 km) to the south. The Taylor, Elgin and Bastrop Railroad were 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
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
, and livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
. By 1890 the community had a population of 1,100 and supported two hotels, a broom factory, two doctors, a dentist, and the Elgin Courier newspaper. The next year oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
was discovered five miles (8 km) southeast of town, but the strike was not large. Coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
proved better for the economy, when the large coal belt nearby was mined in the early twentieth century, bringing Latin American and African American citizens to the area.
The year 1900 produced a bumper crop of cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and Elgin prospered. Elgin grew slowly but steadily through the twentieth 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, Marshal; W.E. McCullough, J. Wed Davis, Ed Lawhon, Max Hirach, and F.S. Wade, Aldermen. Local law enforcement was established to enforce newly established civil and criminal codes
Criminal Code
A criminal code is a document which compiles all, or a significant amount of, a particular jurisdiction's criminal law...
. By 1910, Elgin was enjoying a period of great prosperity as families from out on the prairie and surrounding communities moved to Elgin and built nice homes.
By 1940 Elgin was not only the center of a farming community but also the site of two big brick and tile plants. Elgin enterprise was stimulated during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by the proximity of the army training facility Camp Swift
Camp Swift, Texas
Camp Swift is a census-designated place in Bastrop County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,731 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Camp Swift is located at...
. 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
Sausage
A sausage is a food usually made from ground meat , mixed with salt, herbs, and other spices, although vegetarian sausages are available. The word sausage is derived from Old French saussiche, from the Latin word salsus, meaning salted.Typically, a sausage is formed in a casing traditionally made...
factory processed thousands of pounds of beef and pork a week; Elgin Hot Sausage continued to enjoy a widespread reputation. Elgin rapidly became the most important agricultural center in Bastrop County. Five cotton gin
Cotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
s and a cotton oil mill were in operation at the same time. Other industries included feed and grain processing and hydraulic press
Hydraulic press
A hydraulic is a machine using a hydraulic cylinder to generate a compressive force. It uses the hydraulic equivalenta mechanical lever, and was also known as a Bramah press after the inventor, Joseph Bramah, of England. He invented and was issued a patent on this press in 1795...
manufacturing.
By the 1980s proximity to Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
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. In 2000 the population was 5,700.
Downtown
The Elgin Commercial Historic District includes 14 city blocks of commercial and industrial buildings. Most of these buildings are constructed of locally produced brick and were erected from 1872 to 1947. During the past 14 years private property owners, business owners, and the public sector have invested approximately $9 million in the downtown area. A majority of the buildings on Main Street, from Depot Street to First Street, have been restored or renovated, and many are currently under renovation. The Elgin Main Street Program provides a variety of incentives to building owners such as a discounted paint program, free dumpsters, and free advice on architectural design and restoration. Primary funding for downtown projects comes from the annual Hogeye Festival in October. The Elgin Commercial Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1996. Within the 14-block district, 67 buildings are considered contributing structures. A contributing structure is one, which as maintained its architectural integrity. Southside includes Central Avenue and Avenue C in the downtown district. There are five buildings under restoration in the Southside area.
Elgin became a Texas Main Street city in 1990, and in 1999, 2000 and 2001 was selected as a National Main Street Community. Main Street is a national approach to saving our heritage by preserving historic downtown areas. Each year three cities are selected by the Texas Historical Commission
Texas Historical Commission
The Texas Historical Commission is an agency dedicated to historic preservation within the state of Texas. It administers the National Register of Historic Places for sites in Texas....
and Anice Read Main Street Center to become Main Street Cities. Communities make a commitment to hire a staff person, provide office space, supplies, and a small budget. The primary commitment is to preserving and revitalizing the historic commercial business district. Volunteerism is a key part of the success of any Main Street program.
Education
The City of Elgin is served by the Elgin Independent School DistrictElgin Independent School District
Elgin Independent School District is a public school district based in Elgin, Texas .The district is located in northern Bastrop County and extends into small portions of Travis and Lee counties....
. The Elgin Independent School District comprises more than 168 square miles (435.1 km²) in portions of Bastrop, Lee,Williamson and Travis Counties and provide educational facilities and resources to meet the needs of more than 4000 students in 2010. Elgin's mascot is the wildcat.
Sports
Elgin is host to predominantly three different sports for the youth of the community and surrounding area. In Elgin there is the Pop Warner football and cheerleading squads,Elgin Youth Football which is a member of the Tri-County Football League, Little League and Elgin Youth Soccer Association.2006
The Elgin Little League Major Girls traveled to Portland, Oregon to compete in the 2006 Little League World Series. The Elgin Major Girls softball team came from behind in the Consolation match-up with the South team from Tennessee to win third place in the 2006 Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon. Tennessee defeated Elgin 5-4 in seven innings.2007
Elgin Little League’s Major Girls' softball All-Stars defended their Southwest Region Championship and earned a second straight trip to the World Series by beating out Waco-Midway. Seven members of last year's World Series qualifiers made the return trip to Portland. The championship game slipped from the Elgin Major girls' hands in a very close game against the Mattawan Little League team from Michigan. The Elgin team was determined and played with all their heart, but the undefeated Michigan team took Game 22, 2-0. Elgin took home the second place title for the 2007 Little League World Series as the Southwest Region champion. Elgin advanced to the finals with a 5-0 record.Filmed in Elgin
Several notable films have used Elgin as a location. They include:- 1974 The Texas Chain Saw MassacreThe Texas Chain Saw MassacreThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film directed and produced by Tobe Hooper, who cowrote it with Kim Henkel. It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, and Gunnar Hansen, who respectively portray Sally Hardesty, Franklin Hardesty, the...
- 1975 The Great Waldo PepperThe Great Waldo PepperThe Great Waldo Pepper is a 1975 drama film directed, produced, and co-written by George Roy Hill. It stars Robert Redford as a discontented airplane pilot in the years 1926-1931....
- 1993 What's Eating Gilbert GrapeWhat's Eating Gilbert GrapeWhat's Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio. Peter Hedges wrote the screenplay adapted from his 1991 novel of the same name...
- 1993 A Perfect WorldA Perfect WorldA Perfect World is a 1993 drama film directed by Clint Eastwood, and starring Kevin Costner as an escaped convict who befriends a young boy , and ends up embarking on a road trip with the child...
- 1996 MichaelMichael (1996 film)Michael is a 1996 American fantasy film directed by Nora Ephron and released in 1996. The film stars John Travolta as the Archangel Michael, who is sent to Earth to do various tasks, including mending some wounded hearts...
- 1999 Varsity BluesVarsity BluesThe Varsity Blues is the name for the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 26 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The Varsity Blues traces its founding to 1877, with the formation...
- 2002 25th Hour25th Hour25th Hour is a 2002 American drama film directed by Spike Lee and is based on the novel The 25th Hour written by David Benioff, who also wrote the screenplay. The film stars Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Pepper, Rosario Dawson, Anna Paquin, and Brian Cox...
- 2002 The New GuyThe New GuyThe New Guy is a 2002 American teen comedy directed by Ed Decter. The film tells the story of high school loser Dizzy Gillespie Harrison. Dizzy is an unpopular, high school band geek going through a hellish senior year...
- 2003 The AlamoThe Alamo (2004 film)The Alamo is a 2004 American war film about the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. The film was directed by Texan John Lee Hancock, produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Mark Johnson, and distributed by Touchstone Pictures....
- 2006 A Scanner DarklyA Scanner Darkly (film)A Scanner Darkly is a 2006 science fiction thriller directed by Richard Linklater based on the novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick. The film tells the story of identity and deception in a near-future dystopia constantly under intrusive high-technology police surveillance in the midst of a drug...
External links
- City of Elgin website
- Elgin Chamber of Commerce website