Eastland, Texas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Eastland, Texas
City
Downtown Eastland, Texas
Location of Eastland, Texas

Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Eastland
Founded	1875
Incorporated	June 6, 1891
Named for	M. W. Eastland
Area
• Total	4.392 sq mi (11.375 km²)
• Land	4.364 sq mi (11.304 km²)
• Water	0.028 sq mi (0.073 km²)
Elevation	1,434 ft (437 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	3,609
• Estimate (2023)	3,645
• Density	834.0/sq mi (322.0/km²)
Time zone	UTC–6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	76448
Area code(s)	254
FIPS code	48-22132
GNIS feature ID	2410392
Sales tax	8.25%

Eastland is a city located in Eastland County, Texas, United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Eastland County. In 2020, about 3,609 people lived there.

History of Eastland
- Early Challenges and Growth
- The Story of Ol' Rip
Geography of Eastland
Population in Eastland
Education in Eastland
Famous People from Eastland
Gallery
See also

History of Eastland

Early Challenges and Growth

In 1921, after World War I, many people in Eastland faced tough economic times. Jobs were hard to find. Some people who had moved to Eastland for work during the war found it difficult to stay. Because of these challenges, some families decided to move to other cities, like Fort Worth, to find new opportunities and support.

The Story of Ol' Rip

A very famous event happened in Eastland in 1928. When a new courthouse was built, workers opened the old building's cornerstone. Inside, they found a live horned toad! This lizard, named "Old Rip," had supposedly been sealed inside for many years.

News about Old Rip spread across the country. People were amazed that a lizard could survive for so long without food or water. Sadly, Old Rip passed away in 1929 from pneumonia. Today, you can still see Old Rip. The lizard is kept in a special glass case at the courthouse.

Geography of Eastland

Eastland is located in the northern part of Eastland County. It is about 96 miles (154 km) west-southwest of Fort Worth. The city is also about 55 miles (89 km) east of Abilene. You can reach Eastland easily by using Interstate 20.

The city covers a total area of about 4.392 square miles (11.375 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Population in Eastland

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	88	—
1880	539	512.5%
1900	596	—
1910	855	43.5%
1920	9,368	995.7%
1930	4,648	−50.4%
1940	3,849	−17.2%
1950	3,626	−5.8%
1960	3,292	−9.2%
1970	3,178	−3.5%
1980	3,747	17.9%
1990	3,690	−1.5%
2000	3,769	2.1%
2010	3,960	5.1%
2020	3,609	−8.9%
2023 (est.)	3,645	−8.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

As of the 2020 census, Eastland had 3,609 people living in the city. There were 1,474 households and 909 families. The city is home to people from many different backgrounds. About 79.3% of the people were White, 1.6% were African American, and 0.9% were Native American. About 20.7% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Education in Eastland

Students in Eastland attend schools in the Eastland Independent School District. The city is also home to the Eastland Mavericks, which is the local high school.

Famous People from Eastland

Many interesting people have come from Eastland, Texas. Here are a few:

Emma Carter Browning (1910–2010), a pilot and business leader in aviation.
Hayden Fry (1929–2019), a well-known college football coach.
Ira L. Hanna (1908–1978), who served as the 36th mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Richard D. Lawrence, a high-ranking officer in the United States Army.
Don Pierson (1925–1996), who was a former mayor of Eastland.
Doc Scurlock (1849–1929), one of the first members of the Regulators.
Barney Smith (1921–2019), a master plumber and artist famous for his toilet seat art museum.