The mechanisms for the retention and evolution of {100}< 011 > texture in Fe-3%Si-Mn-C silicon steel sheet are investigated. In this paper, {100}< 011 > textured columnar grains were obtained in Fe-3%Si-Mn-C silicon steel sheet by vacuum annealing. The textures in the surface of samples after cold rolling and vacuum annealing with different heating rates are characterized. Before the formation of gamma (austenite) phases, the development of {111} ferritic grains is inhibited due to a solute drag effect which is caused by Mn and C dissolved in the ferrite, and then, the deformed {100}< 011 > texture is retained. The heating rate has a significant influence on the formation of {100} texture in the surface layer columnar grains. Compared with the slow heating, the rapid heating is more beneficial for the formation of {100}< 011 > texture during the gamma (austenite) to alpha (ferrite) phase transformation. Vacuum annealing with different heating rates can cause the content variation of gamma phases which are adjacent to alpha phase columnar grains in the surface layer. It is reasonable to conclude that the anisotropic elastic strain energy plays a significant role during the formation of the sharp {100}< 011 > texture.