[5] On the night of June 5, 2010, an elephant trunk tornado touched down in Elmwood, destroying city hall and other area buildings, bringing down limbs and power lines, and damaging the roof of a theater.

[6][7] Although Elmwood suffered a great deal from the tornado, many town businesses re-opened.

[10] As of the 2000 United States Census,[12] there were 1,945 people, 772 households, and 565 families residing in the city.

Elmwood is mentioned in Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1881); Frederick Douglass gave a lyceum lecture in early February 1871 "on one of the frostiest and coldest nights I have ever experienced."

Brown suggested to Douglass that orator Robert G. Ingersoll "would gladly open his doors to you.

[16][17] Central Park features a statue by Elmwood native, Lorado Taft, called The Pioneers.