Waco, TX

Originally the home of the Hueco (or Waco) Wichita Native Americans, Waco, Texas, is now a bustling city spanning 96 square miles. Home to 113,726 citizens, Waco is the 26th-most-populous city in the state of Texas.

Waco made national news in February 1993, when a shoot-out ended a 51-day standoff involving members of a religious sect and federal agents. The standoff ended violently when a fire destroyed the sect's compound, killing over 70 people, including the group's leader, David Koresh.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Downtown Waco is divided into three sections: North Side, South Side, and East Side. Each side is separated into neighborhoods, and each neighborhood has its own culture, accent, and slang.

• The North Side is the city's most diverse area, making up the northwest section of Waco. Originally farmland, it has now suffered serious urban decay, and higher-income residents have moved to outlying suburbs. The North Side is made up of 14 separate neighborhoods.
• The South Side encompasses the southeast portion, and it is considered the city's birthplace. Aside from the area surrounding Baylor University, the South Side is also experiencing urban decay. Home to a largely Hispanic population, the South Side contains six neighborhoods.
• The East Side is populated primarily by members of the African-American community. The East Side includes northern portions of the city and the area opposite the Brazos River. The East Side has a history of violence and crime. The community began its downward spiral in 1990, when Paul Quinn College moved out of the city. There are three neighborhoods on the East Side.

The following Waco suburbs are located on the outskirts of the North, South, and East Sides:

• Technology Village (north of Lacy Lakeview)
• China Spring (northwest of Waco Regional Airport)
• Speegleville (west of Lake Waco)
• 84 Corridor (west of Woodway)
• West Waco / Hewitt (between Woodway and Hewitt)
• Beverly Hills (a separate city that is often considered part of Waco)

The most expensive Waco neighborhoods include:

• Lake Shore Drive / Hillcrest Drive
• Baylor University / U.S. Highway 77L
• Bosqueville
• Erath / Valley View
• Cobbs Drive / Wooded Acres Drive
• Rock Creek / China Springs
• Rosenthal / Levi
• Moonlight Drive / Losak Road
• Elm Mott
• Speegleville / South Bosque

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Originally Waco's major industry was cotton production, but the Waco Suspension Bridge-completed in 1870-had a significant impact on the city's economy. The bridge permitted cattle runs from the neighboring Chisholm Trail, and the city's population grew quickly. Today the city is targeting six industries as essential for revitalizing Waco's economic growth. Those industries are aerospace, advanced manufacturing, health care, logistics, tourism, and professional services.

BEST BETS

• The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum commemorates Texas Rangers who have either made notable contributions or died heroically in the line of duty. The Texas Rangers are the oldest law enforcement agency in North America and have jurisdiction statewide.
• The Waco Suspension Bridge is 475 feet long and was built with almost 3 million bricks. Originally designed for cattle drives across the Brazos River, today only pedestrians are allowed to traverse this nationally registered historic site.
• The Dr. Pepper Museum, situated inside the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company building, features numerous exhibits relating to the soft drink, including a fully operating old-fashioned soda fountain.

FOR VISITORS

Waco provides a balance between big-city life and the life typical of a university town, including lectures, music, and art exhibitions.

• The Armstrong Browning Library on Baylor University's campus contains the largest collection of the work of the poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. It also contains a spectacular stained glass collection.
• Art Center Waco provides daily tours, classes, exhibits, and a two-and-a-half-acre sculpture garden overlooking the Brazos River.

The city of Waco maintains four historic house museums:

• Hoffman House
• The Fort House
• Earle-Napier-Kinnard House
• McCulloch House

EDUCATION

There are three higher education institutions in Waco:

• Baylor University, the largest Baptist university in the world
• Texas State Technical College
• McLennan Community College

FUN FACTS

• Two soft drinks were invented in Waco. Dr Pepper was created in 1885 by the pharmacist Charles Alderton, and Big Red made its debut as "Sun Tang Red Cream Soda" when it was invented by R.H. Roark and Grover C. Thomsen in 1937.
• In 1978 mammoth bones were excavated from the mud of the Brazos and Bosque rivers. Further digging revealed the remains of dozens of mammoths, a large cat, and a camel. The dig is considered one of the world's largest findings of its type.
• The rock guitarist and outdoorsman Ted Nugent lives in Waco with his family; he writes a weekly column for the local paper, the Waco Tribune-Herald.
• Waco is the birthplace of the actress Jennifer Love Hewitt and the comedian Steve Martin.