Named for a friendly Native American who assisted the early settlers of the area,[4] Elkhart's population was 1,287 at the 2020 U.S.

It was formed in Crawford County, Illinois in 1833, because the government of Mexico would not allow the Baptist church's organization within their borders.

Daniel, and his father John Parker, led their congregation to Texas, settling in Austin's Colony in 1834.

[4] As the Houston to Palestine rail was being finished in 1872, Elkhart shifted north to the train depot, and thus began to be considered the "railroad village" associated with the Parker settlement.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2), all land.

[5] Among the population in 2020, its racial and ethnic makeup remained predominantly non-Hispanic white, though Black or African Americans were the second largest group.