[6] This line, both leased to and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway,[7] was built in 1925 to Felt, Oklahoma, and extended into New Mexico in 1932; but, was abandoned in 1942.

[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.11 square miles (5.46 km2), all of it land.

[10] Elkhart has a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) characterized by generally dry winters with extreme temperature variations, and hot summers with occasional heavy precipitation from thunder showers or storms.

During winter, because western Kansas lies both on the edge of the subtropical anticyclones and in the rain shadow of westerly winds crossing the Rocky Mountains, the region is generally dry: no measurable precipitation fell in Elkhart between 25 December 1903 and 2 April 1904, while monthly precipitation above 2 inches or 50.8 millimetres has never been recorded during January and is observed fewer than one year in ten during November, December or February.

Temperatures can vary greatly during this season: strong chinook winds can drive temperatures above 80 °F or 26.7 °C even in the depth of winter, with 70 °F or 21.1 °C reached on average during six days between December and February, seven during November and eight during March.

Nevertheless, cold outbreaks from Canada drive temperatures to or below 0 °F or −17.8 °C on an average of 3.6 nights per winter.

Snowfall is generally light due to dryness; however in the extremely wet and cold February 1903, 41.0 inches or 1.04 metres fell, being the major factor behind a record seasonal snowfall of 59.0 inches (1.50 m) between July 1902 and June 1903.

In the summer, the climate is generally very hot with relief from thunderstorms that provide most of the 18.9 inches or 480 millimetres of precipitation expected during one year.

When an upper level anticyclone moves poleward, the atmosphere can become very stable and produce sustained extreme heat: in the hottest month of July 1980 the average maximum was 103.0 °F or 39.4 °C and all but seven days topped 100 °F or 37.8 °C.

The 2020 United States census counted 1,888 people, 729 households, and 469 families in Elkhart.

29.2% of households consisted of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The community is served by Elkhart USD 218 public school district.