The Town of Little Elm was chartered in 1841 as part of the Peters Colony and the Republic of Texas. The area was inhabited mostly by Indian tribes who lived along the several creeks that traversed the region, providing abundant water for springs and associated wildlife for food.
As settlers discovered, the area also had a rich timber source, which provided fuel in the harsh winters and fertile soil. Little Elm remained a quiet lakeside community until the surrounding communities’ growth began to affect our sleepy town profoundly.
As growth discovered Little Elm in the late 1990s, residents prepared for the flood of new residents that were learning about our beautiful lake setting that had been enjoyed so much by a small number of the locals for decades.
Little Elm was incorporated in June 1966, adopted the Council/Manager form of government and its Home Rule Charter in May of 2001, and currently has approximately 9,012 acres or 14.08 square miles within the corporate limits.
A large portion of the original downtown is currently below the waters of Lewisville Lake due to the Corp of Engineers raising the lake level by relocating an impoundment dam, which replaced and covered an earlier lake known as the Garza/Little Elm Reservoir.
If you are drawn to town culture, rich in history that goes back to the birth roots of the great State of Texas, you will love Little Elm!