| Official Name: | Eastland, Texas |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Image Map1: | Eastland County Eastland.svg |
| Mapsize1: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Texas |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Eastland |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Larry Vernon |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1875 |
| Established Title1: | Incorporated |
| Established Date1: | June 6, 1891 |
| Named For: | M. W. Eastland |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 11.375 |
| Area Land Km2: | 11.304 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.073 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 4.392 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 4.364 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.028 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Est: | 3645 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Population Total: | 3609 |
| Population Density Km2: | 322.0 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 834.0 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | –6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | –5 |
| Elevation M: | 439 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1440 |
| Coordinates: | 32.4014°N -98.8175°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 76448 |
| Area Code: | 254 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 48-22132 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1335045 |
| Blank2 Name: | Sales tax |
| Blank2 Info: | 8.25%[2] |
Eastland is a city in Eastland County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,609 at the 2020 census.[3] It is the county seat of Eastland County.[4]
The recession of 1921 exacerbated racial tensions between Anglos and Mexicans. Naturally, unemployment increased in town and whites attempted to oust Mexicans who were hired during the World War I boom. Masked men ravaged shacks used by Mexicans as living quarters. Whites threatened Mexicans' lives, and fearful, they fled to nearby Fort Worth to seek help from the Mexican Consulate, since local authorities took the side of the Anglo locals.[5]
In 1928, the current courthouse was erected, the prior cornerstone was opened, and "Old Rip" was allegedly found alive. The animal, a kind of lizard, received national publicity. It died in 1929 of pneumonia, and was placed in a glass-front casket on view in the present courthouse.[6]
Eastland is located north of the center of Eastland County at 32.3847°N -98.8175°W (32.4015199, -98.8175623). It is west-southwest of Fort Worth and east of Abilene. The city is accessed by Interstate 20 between exits 340 to the south and 343 to the east.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.392sqmi, of which 4.364sqmi is land and 0.028sqmi is water.[1]
| White (NH) | 2,632 | 72.93% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 56 | 1.55% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 13 | 0.36% | |
| Asian (NH) | 40 | 1.11% | |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 1 | 0.03% | |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 121 | 3.35% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 746 | 20.67% | |
| Total | 3,609 | 100.00% |
As of the 2000 census, there were 3,769 people, 1,475 households, and 998 families were living in the city. The population density was 1333.1PD/sqmi. The 1,737 housing units averaged 614.4/sq mi (237.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.64% White, 1.80% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 4.72% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 12.89% of the population.
Of the 1,475 households, 33.8% had children under 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were not families. About 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45, and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city, the age distribution was 25.7% under 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,277, and for a family was $34,333. Males had a median income of $27,072 versus $16,574 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,339. About 14.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
The Texas Eleventh Court of Appeals is located in the Eastland County Courthouse in Eastland.[10]
The city is served by the Eastland Independent School District and is home of the Eastland Mavericks.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Eastland has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[11]