Elgin is a small city which is located 23 miles east of Austin and 17 miles north of Bastrop, and Elgin is also known as the Sausage Capital of Texas! Elgin covers an area of 4.7 square miles, and in the census of 2000, the city reported a population of 5,700 inhabitants. There were 1869 households reported, and 1349 families living in the Elgin area at the time of the census of 2000. The population density was 1214 people per square mile. 36% of the population reported family members being under the age of 18, and 51% were married couples living together. The average family size was 3.5 members, and there was a slightly higher percentage of women than men at the time of the census. There was a median income of around $38,000 during the 2000 census, and the per capita income for the city was around $17,000.

The students of Elgin attend the Elgin Independent School District Schools, and the city holds two annual events: the Hogeye Festival and the Western Days Festival. Part of Elgin is situated in Travis County and part in Bastrop County, and by the year 2005, the population had grown to around 8700 inhabitants.

Elgin was settled in 1872 and was named for Robert Morris Elgin, who was the railroad commissioner at the time. Elgin was settled around the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, and the train depot was originally in the center of the small community. The city was formed after Colorado River flooded in 1869, and the city was first intended to be built 10 miles east, but due to the flood, the land was unusable at the time.

Elgin has grown in recent years, and there are numerous churches, schools and restaurants, among other attractions. Some of the churches include the First Baptist Church, the First United Methodist Church, the Family Worship Center, and the Central Christian Church. Lodging can be found in and near Elgin for visitors, including the new Hyatt Regency Resort in Lost Pines near Bastrop, as well as the Sunset Lodge Motel and a few R.V. parks. Restaurants in or near Elgin include the Meyers Elgin Smokehouse and the Morelia Mexican Cafe, as well as numerous fast food joints, a coffee shop and a few other local eateries.

Some of the prominent employers in Elgin include the school district, the H.E.B. grocery store, Acme Brick Company, and the Southside Market, as well as Beall's Department Store and the City of Elgin. Elgin is a historic city, and a museum was built at the site of the original railroad depot called the Elgin Depot Museum, and Heritage Walking Tours are offered throughout the city, including historic Main Street. Elgin is also considered the Brick Capital of the Southwest, and there are numerous historic brick homes to display their many uses in homebuilding.
A watermelon festival is held in nearby McDade every year, and musical events are regularly scheduled by the city, as well as sports events, including little league baseball. Elgin is also proud of their barbecue, and the Southside Market and Meyer's Smokehouse have both been in business for over 100 years. Meyer's Smokehouse was named one of the 14 top barbecue spots in the state of Texas in 2003, and the Southside Market, run by the Bracewell family, was founded in 1882 and has been in business since.

The Elgin Courier is the local source of news for the occupants of Elgin, and since the city is located east of Austin, it is reasonably accessible to Houston by Highway 290 as well as San Antonio, which is southwest via Interstate 35 through Austin. There are many parks in Elgin, including the Elgin Memorial Park on Highway 95, as well as the Morris Memorial Park, the Thomas Park, and the Veteran's Park.

Elgin is a great place to consider if rural living appeals to you, yet its proximity to metropolitan areas allows the advantages of the big city. When traveling to central Texas, be sure to visit Elgin, try some barbecue, and visit with the friendly citizens!