Eagle Lake is a city in southeastern Colorado County, Texas, situated on the coastal plain between Houston and San Antonio. The 2020 census counted 3,442 residents. The community developed as a railroad and agricultural shipping center, and rice farming has long anchored the local economy, shaping both the landscape and the town's identity. Eagle Lake is best known as the 'Goose Hunting Capital of the World,' a nickname earned because the lake and the surrounding rice paddies attract large numbers of migratory waterfowl, making the area a destination for goose and duck hunting. The Colorado River basin's wetlands and flooded fields create one of Texas' most important wintering areas for geese, drawing hunters and outdoor enthusiasts from across the state and beyond. The city is also home to what is promoted as the largest private lake in Texas, along with a golf course and the Eagle Lake Regional Airport, which serves light aircraft. The Prairie Edge Museum on Main Street preserves local history, and the area's agricultural heritage remains visible in the surrounding fields and grain elevators. Students attend the Rice Consolidated Independent School District, including Eagle Lake Intermediate School, with high school students attending Rice High School in nearby Altair. Eagle Lake functions as a compact, self-contained community serving the surrounding agricultural region, with schools, businesses, and services clustered near the rail line and highway. The city sits along U.S. Route 90 Alternate, a short distance from Interstate 10, which links it to Houston to the east and San Antonio to the west. Eagle Lake's combination of waterfowl habitat, rice-farming heritage, and small-town character defines its place within Colorado County.