Elgin

Elgin is a place name used for several locations in the United Kingdom and North America, and for institutions named after those places. The two best known references are Elgin, Scotland, a historic city in Moray, and Elgin, Illinois, a city in northern Illinois. The name also appears in other North American communities and in organizations such as the Elgin National Watch Company, a major 19th-century American manufacturer founded in Elgin, Illinois.

Elgin, Scotland is located in northeast Scotland along the River Lossie. It serves as the administrative center of Moray. The town’s historic core centers on medieval churches and the ruins of Elgin Cathedral, a prominent landmark built in the medieval period and later damaged by fire. Today, Elgin combines its historical heritage with modern services and serves as a regional hub for commerce and culture in northeast Scotland.

Elgin, Illinois sits on the Fox River about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Chicago. It developed as a manufacturing and agricultural town in the 19th and early 20th centuries and became notable as the home of the Elgin National Watch Company, a leading American watchmaker. The city today has a diverse economy, several parks, and a range of educational and cultural institutions.

Other places named Elgin include communities in Canada and the United States, as well as counties, townships, and roads associated with those locations. The name’s widespread use reflects historical ties to British place names.