Elkhart, Texas
Town in the United States in Anderson County
About Elkhart
Elkhart is a town in the U.S. state of Texas, in Anderson County. Elkhart's population was estimated at 1,250 in March 2024.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Elkhart is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Elkhart
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
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The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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Population over time
From 1,371 in 2010 to 1,287 in 2020 (−6.1%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,287 |
| 2010 | 1,371 |
History
Elkhart's early history includes Daniel Parker's Pilgrim Predestinarian Baptist Church, formed in Crawford County, Illinois, 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 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 location and named for a Native who had helped the early settlers.
As the Houston to Palestine rail was being finished in 1872, Elkhart shifted north to the train depot, thus it began to be considered the "railroad village" associated with the Parker settlement.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.