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verification. (October 2009) |
Elmo, Texas | |
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Coordinates: 32°43′19″N 96°09′54″W / 32.72194°N 96.16500°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
County | Kaufman |
Area | |
• Total | 4.48 sq mi (11.60 km2) |
• Land | 4.11 sq mi (10.65 km2) |
• Water | 0.37 sq mi (0.95 km2) |
Elevation | 512 ft (156 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 768 |
• Density | 187/sq mi (72.1/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 ( Central (CST)) |
• Summer ( DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP code | 75118 |
Area code | 972 |
FIPS code | 48-23356 |
GNIS feature ID | 1335410 |
Elmo is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Kaufman County, Texas, United States. It is located on U.S. Highway 80, 6 miles (10 km) east of Terrell and 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Kaufman, the county seat. The population was 768 at the 2010 Census. [1]
Elmo's history begins in 1870 when the Texas and Pacific Railway laid track through the area. A community sprang up at the railhead, and it was decided that the new town be named to honor Elmo Scott, a T&P Railroad surveyor. Elmo received a post office in 1873 and by the mid-1880s possessed several mills, five churches, its own schools and approximately 900 residents. Through the remainder of the 19th century, however, the population fell and by 1945 only 150 people called Elmo home. By 1990 this figure had fallen to 90; it remained at this level through to the 2000 Census. [2]
In 1892, Elmo residents adopted a resolution declaring a sundown town, prohibiting African Americans from living there and forcing existing black residents to leave. [3]
The following resolutions were adopted by the citizens of Elmo precinct at a mass meeting called together with a view of discouraging the immigration of negroes into the settlement and removing the obnoxious citizens of color already in the precinct. ... 'Resolved, that it is the judgment of this meeting that no negro immigrant be given any home in our midst, and that the objectionable ones be peaceably, quietly and lawfully removed from us as soon as the present crop is harvested. ...'