Elfers is a historically significant area traditionally centered around what is now the intersection of S.R. 54 and Grand Boulevard (C.R. 595) in Pasco County. Before taking its current name, the community was known in the 19th century as the Baillie settlement. That changed on December 14, 1909, when a local post office was officially established. Frieda Marie Eiland, the wife of the town's first postmaster, selected the name "Elfers" to honor a beloved uncle.

The arrival of the Tampa and Gulf Coast Railroad in 1913 transformed Elfers overnight. The rail line opened up national markets for the area’s sprawling citrus groves, turning the quiet settlement into a bustling agricultural hub. One of the most famous of these was the Sans Souci Grove, a 250 acre citrus farm owned by the Knight family. In 1920, the Elfers Citrus Growers Associated was chartered, and a huge packing house was built next to the railroad line.

Growth was so rapid that in 1915, Elfers built the first brick schoolhouse in western Pasco County—a major milestone for the region. Driven by optimism during Florida's land boom, the community formally incorporated as a town in 1925. However, economic strain during the Great Depression led residents to surrender their municipal charter in 1933, returning Elfers to unincorporated status. Throughout the mid-20th century, Elfers remained defined by citrus. That changed in December 1962, when a severe hard freeze devastated thousands of acres of local groves. Rather than replanting, many landowners sold their acreage to developers responding to Florida's growing post-war population.

Over the following decades, citrus trees were replaced by planned residential subdivisions, shopping centers, and concrete-block homes. Today, Elfers has evolved into a fully suburbanized residential enclave within the broader West Pasco metropolitan area. Today, there is no distinct border for the town - being surrounded by New Port Richey to the north, and the unincorporated Holiday area to the south. Another nearby remnant of Elfer's boomtown days is the First State Bank of Elfers building, which was built in 1926. Ironically, it was never actually used as a bank. It is also known as the Mitchell Building, because it was built by State Senator Jesse Mitchell, who was from Elfers. Also worth a visit is the Baker House, located in Centennial Park on Moog Road. It is the oldest cracker house in West Pasco County - built in 1882, and still standing.

Elfers reflects the broader story of coastal Pasco County: a journey from Native American hunting grounds to a thriving citrus center, and finally into a suburban Gulf Coast neighborhood that honors its historical roots. Activities & Facilities

Hotel or B&BRestaurantDogs allowedLive musicShort hiking trailsPaved bike trails

• West Pasco Historical Society webpage for Elfers