Situated one hundred miles between Austin and Dallas, Waco's area population of 215,000 enjoys a rich and eclectic sampling of the natural landscape, bustling local commerce and the cultural arts.
Named after the Waco Indians, the first known inhabitants of the area, the city has worn many different hats in its 150-year history, from staking an outpost for the Texas Rangers to serving as regional cotton trading hub to making a home for Baylor, the first and oldest university in Texas.
These days, Waco boasts varied and beautiful landscapes, historically significant architecture, nationally recognized museums, locally owned and operated businesses, and active community involvement among its constituents.
You'll almost always find a mountain biking group traversing the nationally renowned trails of Cameron Park and indie bands scheduled to perform at a local coffee shop, Common Grounds. Visitors and locals alike catch plays and other stage performances at the Waco Hippodrome Theater crafts and fresh produce at Homestead Heritage and a lesson in pop culture history at the Dr Pepper Museum.
In addition, downtown Waco, which has been an ongoing project of revitalization and restoration over the last several years, is a destination to some of central Texas's finest shopping and dining.
And in the backdrop, on the Brazos River, one of Waco's most recognizable icons, the Suspension Bridge, is a point of interest and sentiment for visitors and locals alike. Built in 1870 by the John Roebling Company, the cable-built bridge provided traders and sojourners a crucial point of crossing and was the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi. It is still well-worn with travel in modern day, as many community events including marathons, Fourth of July celebrations and outdoor concerts are centered around this Waco landmark.
For more information on our city, please visit the websites for the City of Waco, The Waco Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
To learn about housing options, please click here.
