Founded in 1872, the City of Elgin owes both its location and its very existence to the powerful forces of nature and the rapid expansion of railroads across Texas. When a major flood of the Colorado River in 1869 forced planners to reroute the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, the line was shifted north—and on August 18, 1872, the new town of Elgin was created and named for Robert Morriss Elgin, the railroad’s land commissioner. Following a common practice of the era, the railroad placed a depot at the center of a one–square-mile townsite, setting the stage for a community built around the steady rhythm of steam engines and commerce.
Many of Elgin’s earliest residents came from the nearby community of Perryville—also known as Hogeye—just two miles south. This lively settlement juggled several identities: Young’s Settlement for the post office, Perryville for churches and the Masonic Lodge, and Hogeye for its colorful stage stop where dances were held. According to local lore, the nickname stuck thanks to a fiddler who knew only one tune, “Hogeye,” which he played endlessly on the puncheon floor as neighbors danced long into the night.
Railroads continued to shape Elgin’s future. In 1885, local citizens organized a north–south line connecting Taylor to Bastrop. This Taylor, Elgin and Bastrop Railroad was soon acquired by the “Katy” line, which extended the track all the way to Houston. By the late 1880s, Elgin was served by two major railroads and saw eight passenger trains pass through daily—an extraordinary level of connectivity that fueled its early growth.
By 1890, Elgin’s population had climbed to 831, and a wave of new businesses emerged. Brickmaking, construction, farming, and nearby coal mining attracted a diverse group of new residents. A bumper cotton crop in 1900 pushed the population to 1,258, and in 1901 the city officially incorporated, electing its first mayor and establishing local law enforcement.
By 1910, Elgin was thriving. Families from surrounding rural areas moved into town, many building homes that still stand near the Historic Downtown District today. With five cotton gins, a cotton oil mill, and three brickyards in operation, Elgin became both the agricultural heart of Bastrop County and proudly known as “The Brick Capital of the Southwest.”
Elgin, Texas. “Our History” https://www.elgintexas.gov/199/Our-History