Who We Are
Elsa was settled as ranch land before 1800. Anglo-Americans settled in the area in the early 1900's; the town was laid out with the coming of Texas and New Orleans Railroad in 1927, and incorporated in 1940. The Ro-Tel brand of tomatoes and green chile began in 1943 as a family canning plant in Elsa.
The population of Elsa was 1,006 in 1940, and had grown to 4,400 by 1970. The first library was established in 1974 and was located at Elsa Housing Authority on 309 W. 3rd Street. The library has since moved to its current location. In 2024, the city of Elsa has a population of 5,661, to which the Elsa Public Library proudly serves.
City of Elsa Newsletter, March 2000
