Ellinger, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ellinger, Texas
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Ellinger post office
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 Ellinger, Texas
Location in Texas
Ellinger, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Fayette |
| Elevation | 285 ft (87 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
78938
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| Area code(s) | 979 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2829833 |
Ellinger is a small city located in Fayette County, Texas. In 2021, about 203 people lived there. You can find Ellinger on Highway TX-71. It's about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of La Grange and just 2 miles (3.2 km) from the border of Colorado County.
Exploring Ellinger's Location
Ellinger is situated in a unique spot in Texas. The land here was originally given to early settlers. These land areas were named after the families who received them.
How Land Was Divided
The city's area includes parts of what were once called the W.O. Burnham and Lucy Kerr land areas. It also covers parts of the Jos. Duty, W.T. Dunlavy, and Jus. Ehlinger lands that are in Fayette County. This system helped organize the early settlements.
Early Settlers and the Railroad
Two important landowners in the area were John H. Meyer and Henry Fordtran. A man named Andreas Ondrey suggested the name "Ellinger" to the Southern Pacific Railroad. The town's location on a branch of this railroad was key to its early success.
Ellinger's Natural Surroundings
Ellinger is about 2.87 miles (4.62 km) from the Colorado River. It is also about 5.30 miles (8.53 km) from Lake Fayette. The town itself is built on a gentle slope. The land near the river is lower, around 190 feet (58.1 meters). It gradually rises to about 318 feet (97 meters) at the town's northeast edge.
Ellinger's Journey Through Time
The story of Ellinger began with a French soldier named Joseph Ehlinger. He served under Napoleon and received land in Texas for his service. Sadly, he drowned near Houston shortly after bringing his family to their new home.
Founding of Live Oak Hill
Joseph's son, Charles Ehlinger, founded the first settlement. He named it Live Oak Hill. This original town was a few miles north of where Ellinger is today. Charles was very important to the early community. He was a farmer, helped run the First State Bank of Ellinger, and was the town's first postmaster.
Moving and Renaming the Town
The Southern Pacific Railroad was built about two miles away from Live Oak Hill. To be closer to the railroad, which brought business and travelers, the town decided to move. When it moved, the name was changed to Ellinger. The silent "H" was dropped to make it easier to spell and say. This change happened when the railroad arrived.
Early Businesses and Community Life
Ellinger was officially planned out in 1883. Some of the oldest businesses were run by J. and B. Wacker. They had a general store that sold many things, from groceries to hardware. Other important business families included the Hotmann, Meyer, Rosenburg, and Hill families.
The town also had two churches. One was a Lutheran church called St. John, which is still active today. It holds services every Sunday morning.
The Post Office and Economy
A post office has been operating in Ellinger for a long time. The Texas State Historical Association says it started in 1877.
In the early 1900s, cotton farming was very important to Ellinger's economy. The town was a busy center for cotton farmers in the area. By 1900, Ellinger had 14 businesses and a lively community.
Challenges and Changes
Ellinger's growth slowed down in the early 20th century. This happened when the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad was built. This larger railway went through nearby Fayetteville instead of Ellinger. This meant a lot of business went to Fayetteville instead.
Even with this challenge, Ellinger survived. Its farming business changed from cotton to ranching, grains, and pecans by the mid-1900s. In 1902, the town still had various businesses, including a general store, a lumber yard, a drugstore, a cotton gin, and a mechanic.
Ellinger Today
By 1990, about 200 people lived in Ellinger. In 2011, a writer from the Austin Chronicle described Ellinger as a small town with only a few businesses.
Ellinger is also known as the home of Andrea Polasek. She is a celebrity judge on the show Chopped Challenge. She also co-hosts the upcoming season of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy Fieri.
Becoming an Official City
On November 3, 2020, the people of Ellinger voted to become an official city. Most residents (63.3%) voted in favor. This made Ellinger a Type C General-Law municipality. During this election, residents also chose their first Mayor and two Commissioners. Matt Mikulenka was elected Mayor. Joseph Lamer and Kenneth Stojanik were elected as Commissioners.
In May 2021, the city received a grant of $18,300. This money came from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. The grant will help the city buy a portable building. This building will store city records and serve as a main office for city business. The grant also covers preparing the site for the building and making it accessible for everyone.
