Waco, Texas
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| Waco, Texas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Waco, Texas |
| Settlement type | City |
| Nickname | Heart of Texas |
| Pushpin label | Waco |
| Coordinates | 31, 33, 5, N... |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | United States |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | Texas |
| Subdivision type2 | County |
| Subdivision name2 | McLennan |
| Established title | Founded |
| Established date | 1849 |
| Established title1 | Incorporated |
| Established date1 | 1856 |
| Government type | Council–Manager |
| Leader title | Mayor |
| Leader name | Dillon Meek |
| Leader title1 | City Council |
| Unit pref | Imperial |
| Area total km2 | 262.41 |
| Area total sq mi | 101.32 |
| Area land km2 | 247.22 |
| Area land sq mi | 95.45 |
| Area water km2 | 15.19 |
| Area water sq mi | 5.87 |
| Elevation m | 143 |
| Elevation ft | 469 |
| Population total | 138486 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population density km2 | auto |
| Population density sq mi | auto |
| Timezone | CST |
| Utc offset | -6 |
| Timezone DST | CDT |
| Utc offset DST | -5 |
| Postal code type | ZIP Codes |
| Postal code | 76700-76799 |
| Area code | 254 |
| Blank name | FIPS code |
| Blank info | 48-76000 |
| Blank1 name | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 info | 1379191 |
| Website | www.waco-texas.com |
Waco, Texas. A city situated along the Brazos River in the heart of Texas, it serves as the county seat of McLennan County. Known as the "Heart of Texas," it is a regional hub for education, commerce, and culture, anchored by institutions like Baylor University and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. The city gained international notoriety for the Waco siege involving the Branch Davidians in 1993.
History
The area was originally inhabited by the Wichita people, specifically the Waco tribe for which the city is named. European-American settlement began in earnest after the 1849 establishment of a Texas Ranger post, Fort Fisher, near a shallow crossing on the Brazos River. The community was formally incorporated in 1856 and grew as a center for cotton trade and agriculture, connected by the Waco Suspension Bridge, completed in 1870. The city's development was spurred by the arrival of the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad and the founding of Baylor University, which relocated from Independence, Texas in 1886. The 20th century brought industrialization and notoriety, including the 1916 Waco lynching of Jesse Washington and the deadly 1953 Waco tornado outbreak. The city became a focal point of global media during the 1993 Waco siege at Mount Carmel Center near Elk, Texas, a confrontation between the Branch Davidians and federal agencies including the ATF and FBI.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 101.3 square miles, with the Brazos River and Bosque River flowing through it. The terrain is characterized by rolling plains and prairies, part of the Texas Blackland Prairies region. Major geographic features include Lake Waco, a reservoir created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and Cameron Park, one of the largest municipal parks in Texas. The city's climate is classified as humid subtropical, with hot summers and mild winters, occasionally experiencing severe weather such as tornadoes.
Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 138,486, making it the 24th-most populous city in Texas. The racial and ethnic composition is diverse, with significant White, Black or African American, and Hispanic or Latino communities. The presence of Baylor University, McLennan Community College, and Texas State Technical College contributes to a substantial student population. The median household income has seen growth, partly driven by economic development initiatives and the influence of television personalities like Chip and Joanna Gaines of Magnolia Market.
Economy
Historically reliant on agriculture and cotton processing, the economy has diversified into education, healthcare, manufacturing, and tourism. Major employers include Baylor University, the Baylor Scott & White Health system, and L3Harris. The VA operates the Doris Miller Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Tourism has been significantly boosted by Magnolia Market at the Silos, a retail complex developed by Chip and Joanna Gaines of the HGTV show *Fixer Upper*, drawing millions of visitors annually. The city is also home to the Dr Pepper Museum, celebrating the iconic soft drink invented by Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas.
Culture and recreation
Cultural institutions include the Mayborn Museum Complex at Baylor University, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Waco Mammoth National Monument, a paleontological site preserving the remains of Columbian mammoths. The Waco Symphony Orchestra and the Waco Civic Theatre provide performing arts. Annual events feature the Brazos Nights concert series and the Texas Food Truck Showdown. Recreational attractions are centered on the Brazos River with the Waco Riverwalk, Cameron Park Zoo, and the Waco Suspension Bridge, a historic landmark. Sports are represented by the Baylor Bears athletic teams and the Waco BlueCats professional basketball team.
Government
The city operates under a council-manager system. The Waco City Council consists of a mayor and five single-member district council members, who appoint a professional city manager to oversee daily operations. The city is part of Texas's 17th congressional district, represented in the United States House of Representatives by Pete Sessions. It also falls within the jurisdiction of the McLennan County Commissioners' Court and the Waco, Texas. Local law enforcement and Museum and Museum and Commissioners' 100, Texas|Waco, Texas|Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas and Waco, Texas