Elkhart is a town the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, in
Anderson County. Named for a friendly
Native American who assisted the early settlers of the area,
Elkhart's population was 1,287 at the
2020 U.S. census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
.
History
The history of Elkhart starts with
Daniel Parker's Pilgrim Predestinarian Baptist Church. It was formed in
Crawford County, Illinois
Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the population was 19,817. Its county seat is Robinson.
History
Crawford County was formed in the Illinois Territory on December 31, 1816, out of Edward ...
in 1833, because the government of Mexico would not allow the Baptist church's organization within their borders. Daniel, and his father John Parker, led their congregation to Texas, settling in
Austin's Colony
The "Old Three Hundred" were 297 grantees who purchased 307 parcels of land from Stephen Fuller Austin in Mexican Texas. Each grantee was head of a household, or, in some cases, a partnership of married men. Austin was an American approved in 1 ...
in 1834. While John Parker's group settled and established
Fort Parker (Limestone County), Daniel's group settled first in the territory that became
Grimes County and later moved to the area around
Fort Houston (Anderson County). Daniel Parker spent his time traveling and preaching in the homes of his scattered congregation. In 1836, the threats of
General Santa Anna's troops in April 1836, and the
attack of Fort Parker in May 1836 sent the remnant of John Parker's group to seek protection near Fort Houston. The Pilgrim Church resumed meetings in February 1837, and resolved in 1839 to build a church house, selecting 2.5 acres "on the north side of the bluff of the Harrison Fork of Bayou Blue near Daniel Parker's house". They constructed a log house and cleared a burial ground where Daniel Parker was buried in 1844. The church, now called Old Pilgrim Church, which has been replaced several times since the first log house, was the center of the community called Parker's Settlement, or just Pilgrim.
About the same time Parker's followers were getting established, the first Methodist sermon was given by Rev. William Stevenson, whose members built their church about 1840, one mile west of Pilgrim Baptist Church.
The community was granted a post office in March 1850, named Elkheart (later changed to Elkhart) which was located 4 miles south of Elkhart's current position, and named for a Native who had helped the early settlers.
As the
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
to
Palestine
__NOTOC__
Palestine may refer to:
* State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia
* Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia
* Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...
rail was being finished in 1872, Elkhart shifted north to the train depot, and thus began to be considered the "railroad village" associated with the Parker settlement.
Geography
Elkhart is located in southern Anderson County at (31.628429, –95.578588).
U.S. Route 287 passes through the town, leading north to
Palestine
__NOTOC__
Palestine may refer to:
* State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia
* Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia
* Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...
, the county seat, south to
Grapeland, and south to
Crockett
Crockett may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Crockett Gillmore (born 1991), American National Football League player
*Crockett Johnson, pen name of David Johnson Liesk (1906-1975), American cartoonist and children's book illustrator
*C ...
, the seat of
Houston County. According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the town has a total area of , all of it land.
Demographics
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 1,287 people, 453 households, and 316 families residing in the town.
At the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000,
there were 1,215 people, 473 households, and 321 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 532 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 89.05%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 8.15%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.41%
Native American, 0.82% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.56% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 3.05% of the population. In 2020, its population was 1,287.
Among the population in 2020, its racial and ethnic makeup remained predominantly
non-Hispanic white
Non-Hispanic whites or Non-Latino whites are Americans who are classified as "white", and are not of Hispanic (also known as "Latino") heritage. The United States Census Bureau defines ''white'' to include European Americans, Middle Eastern Amer ...
, though Black or African Americans were the second largest group.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,927, and the median income for a family was $33,977 in 2000. Males had a median income of $27,841 versus $21,705 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the town was $13,809. About 12.9% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over. In 2020, its median household income was $37,159, and 19.9% of its population lived at or below the poverty line.
Education
The town of Elkhart is served by the
Elkhart Independent School District
Elkhart Independent School District is a public school district based in Elkhart, Texas ( USA). The district is located in southwest Anderson County and extends into northern Houston County. A small portion of the district extends to the cit ...
.
Notable people
*
F. Tillman Durdin
Frank Tillman Durdin (March 30, 1907 – July 7, 1998) was a longtime foreign correspondent for ''The New York Times''. During his career, Durdin reported on the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), the collapse of European colonial rule in I ...
, journalist
*
Tye Sheridan
Tye Kayle Sheridan (born November 11, 1996) is an American actor and producer. He is best known for playing the young Scott Summers / Cyclops in the reboot ''X-Men'' film series (2016–2019), as well as Wade Watts in ''Ready Player One'' (2 ...
, actor
*
Jeff Wilson (American football)
Jeffery Wilson Jr. (born November 16, 1995) is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Texas and signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted fr ...
, NFL Running Back for the Miami Dolphins
References
External links
Entry in the Handbook of Texas Online
{{authority control
Towns in Anderson County, Texas