Ballinger (/ˈbælɪndʒər/ BAL-in-jər) is a city in Runnels County, Texas, United States.

Runnels City, the original county seat, campaigned for selection as the new railroad terminal, but the future site of Ballinger, five miles to the south, offered a better water supply.

[6] The 1.7-square-mile area was laid out in large lots, with a courthouse square and public park set aside for future use.

Santa Fe officials offered free property to anyone who would move a home from Runnels City to Ballinger and to any church that would erect a building.

[6] The town was named in honor of William Pitt Ballinger, a Galveston attorney and stockholder of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe.

[7] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

[8] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,619 people, 1,449 households, and 860 families residing in the city.

About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.