Elgin is a city in Bastrop County, Texas, located about 19 miles east of Austin along Highway 290, at the edge of the Austin metropolitan area. With roughly 13,000 residents, Elgin has grown beyond its origins as a railroad town and brick-making center while retaining a strong small-town identity. It is best known statewide as the Sausage Capital of Texas and the Brick Capital of the Southwest, titles that reflect both its culinary tradition and its historic brick architecture. The city's downtown was designated a Historic District in 1991 and participates in the Texas Main Street program, with local and National Register historic listings. The brick-built commercial core features public art, murals, and restored storefronts, and it hosts the annual Hogeye Festival, a celebration of Elgin's sausage and barbecue heritage. Long-running institutions such as Southside Market & Barbeque, which has served its original hot sausage for more than a century, and Meyer's Elgin Smokehouse anchor the local food scene and draw visitors from across the region. Elgin's housing offers a suburban-rural mix. Historic homes sit close to Main Street, mid-century houses fill established neighborhoods, and newer subdivisions and rural acreage properties ring the city, giving residents choices that range from walkable in-town living to larger lots and country settings. Public education is provided by Elgin Independent School District, based in the city and serving roughly 6,000 students across the area, and an Austin Community College branch opened in Elgin in 2013, bringing higher-education access closer to home. Transportation to Austin is a key part of Elgin's appeal. The CARTS Metro Connector provides weekday express bus service from downtown Elgin to downtown Austin, complementing Highway 290 for drivers. This combination of historic character, food heritage, and commuting access makes Elgin an appealing option for those seeking a rooted Central Texas community within reach of the state capital's economy and amenities.