Ellinger, TX

Ellinger is a small town located in the northeast corner of Gillespie County. The population was 1,851 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by the towns of Lexington to the north, and Hico to the east.

The town was founded in 1887 as a stop on the Houston and Texas Central Railway. Ellinger was named for Judge J.M. Ellinger, one of the original developers of the town. The first business in Ellinger was a general store operated by J.M. and Lizzie (Baker) Ellinger. In 1888, J.M.'s brother-in-law, A.W. Baker opened a blacksmith shop next door to the general store and post office was established that same year with John Witherspoon as postmaster

In 1889, two more businesses were opened in Ellinger: a hotel operated by Atherton & Company and a saloon run by Rufus Burcham & Company

In 1890, four more businesses were added to Ellinger's business district: an ice plant operated by Clements Brothers; an opera house built by Wm Dickson; a furniture store operated by Simeon Fenton; and another general store run by Jno Gentry

By 1900, there were twelve businesses operating in Ellinger: six hotels (Atherton Hotel-Operated by Atherton Brothers-, Dickson Opera House-Operated by Wm Dickson-, Fenton Furniture Store-Operated by Simeon Fenton-, Gentry General Store- Operated By John Gentry-, Hotel Phillips - Operated By Mrs Phillips), three blacksmith shops (Baker Blacksmith Shop-operated By J M & Lizzie Baker-, Brown Blacksmith Shop -operated By T H Brown Jr.- , White Blacksmith Shop -operated By C P White), two grain elevators (Gillespie Elevator Co.), one cotton gin ( Houston Cotton Gin), one wagon shop ( Wilson Wagon Shop), one livery stable (Elliott Livery Stable)

The population grew rapidly after 1900 with twenty five new businesses opening between 1910 and 1920 including two banks (First National Bank of Gillespie County -opened in 1910 , Citizens National Bank of Gillespie County -opened 1921 ), four churches (Church Of Christ -built 1912 , Methodist Church -built 1914 , Presbyterian Church -built 1916 ), three schools (East Elementary School -opened 1909 , West Elementary School -opened 1911 , Gillespie High School), two gas stations/service stations/truck stops/liquor stores/restaurants/barber shops/one movie theater /and one radio station KFDM(AM). In 1930 there were thirty seven businesses open including four grocery stores (), three drugstores (), two hardware stores (), two lumberyards (), one pool hall () and one service station (). There were also six new churches built that year including First Baptist Church which had been constructed on land donated by Judge J .M . Ellinger (), Second Baptist Church which had been constructed on land donated jointlyby Rufus Burcham ()and George Elliott (), Grace Methodist Episcopal Church which had been constructed on land donated jointlyby Mrs Nannie Grace ()and Mr Frank Elliott (), East United Methodist Church which had been constructed on land donated jointlyby Revs Jesse Eastburn ()and James Caldwell (), South Presbyterian Church which had been constructed on land donated jointlyby Mr Joseph Woodard ()and Mr Tobe Woodard (). In 1940 there were forty nine businesses open including five grocery stores (), four drugstores (), three hardware stores (), three lumberyards (); one pool hall (); two service stations ();one restaurant ();one barber shop ();one movie theater ();one radio station KFDM(AM);and one bank (). There were also six new churches built that year including First Baptist Church which had been enlarged from its original size(), Second Baptist Church which had been enlarged from its original size(), Grace Methodist Episcopal Church which had acquired an addition adjacent to its building()South Presbyterian Churchwhich had acquired an addition adjacent to its building(), East United MethodistChurchwhichhad acquiredan additionadjacenttoitsbuilding()and West United MethodistChurchwhichhadacquiredan additionadjacenttoitsbuilding(). In 1950 there were fifty eight businesses open includingsix grocery stores(),five drugstores(),four hardware stores(),three lumberyards();two service stations();one restaurant();one barber shop();one movie theater();one radio station KFDM(AM);and one bank (). TherewerealsoseventeennewchurchesbuiltthatyearincludingFirstBaptistChurchwhichhadbeenenlargedfromitsoriginalsize(),SecondBaptistChurchwhichhadbeenenlargedfromitsoriginalsize(),GraceMethodistEpiscopalChurchwhichhadacquiredanadditionadjacenttotheirbuilding()SouthPresbyterianChurchthathadacquiredanadditionadjacenttotheirbuilding()EastUnitedMethodistChurchethathadacquiredanadditionadjacenttotheirbuilding() WestUnitedMethodistChurchethathadacquiredanadditionadjacenttotheirbuilding().