Positioned in the Texas Triangle bounded by Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio, Waco is a quality-of-life destination, a place where tourism, industry, higher education, outdoor recreation and a moderate cost of living create a comfortable home. Situated on the I-35 corridor about 90 miles south of Dallas and 100 miles north of Austin, Waco’s located in the center of the Texas manufacturing and technology corridor. People are drawn to Waco for the location, Baylor, the amenities, but stay for the friendliness and vibrant culture.
In Waco, the familiar rubs elbows with the unlikely; rocket engine testing from Space X to where mammoths once grazed, and young entrepreneurs imagine a future while respectful of history in a city founded early in Texas’ statehood. Home to the Baylor Bears, the largest Baptist university and tourist magnet Magnolia Market at the Silos, Waco is now a destination, not just a historic waypoint for cattle drives crossing the Brazos River and the Texas cotton industry.
The first inhabitants of the area that has become present-day Waco were encountered by Spanish explorers in the 1770s. Known as the Wi-iko or Huaco people, the tribe were successful both as farmers and hunters who excelled in the trade economy. Waco began as a village which didn't take shape until 1849, when surveyor George B. Erath laid out its first streets and insisted the village be named after the area’s first inhabitants, the Huaco—Waco Village. In 1856, Waco Village became incorporated as a town. Waco’s iconic “Suspension Bridge” (1870) over the Brazos River made Waco a key spur on the Chisholm Trail, enabling hundreds of thousands of cattle to cross the river to northern markets. With the arrival of several railroad lines, by the mid 1870s Waco had become a key launching point for settlers headed west and a hub for regional trade.
Waco is the county seat of McLennan County. The City is the birthplace of Dr Pepper, home of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Waco is also home to the Waco Mammoth National Monument, a 100-plus acre stretch of wooded parkland along the Bosque River. The site, part of the National Parks System, provides a glimpse into the lives of Columbian mammoth bones discovered in Waco along the Bosque River.
With a 2024 population estimated at 147,280 and the larger metropolitan area with a population of over 295,000, Waco is the 22nd largest city in Texas, its population has increasing by over 15% since 2010. Waco is a comparatively young community with a median age of 28.9, below both Texas (34.8) and the U.S. (38.1). The average home value in Waco is $189,656, according to Zillow, with the median sales price (Dec. 2023) at $240,283 compared to $318,067 for Texas and $327,000 for the entire U.S.
In Waco, the familiar rubs elbows with the unlikely; rocket engine testing from Space X to where mammoths once grazed, and young entrepreneurs imagine a future while respectful of history in a city founded early in Texas’ statehood. Home to the Baylor Bears, the largest Baptist university and tourist magnet Magnolia Market at the Silos, Waco is now a destination, not just a historic waypoint for cattle drives crossing the Brazos River and the Texas cotton industry.
The first inhabitants of the area that has become present-day Waco were encountered by Spanish explorers in the 1770s. Known as the Wi-iko or Huaco people, the tribe were successful both as farmers and hunters who excelled in the trade economy. Waco began as a village which didn't take shape until 1849, when surveyor George B. Erath laid out its first streets and insisted the village be named after the area’s first inhabitants, the Huaco—Waco Village. In 1856, Waco Village became incorporated as a town. Waco’s iconic “Suspension Bridge” (1870) over the Brazos River made Waco a key spur on the Chisholm Trail, enabling hundreds of thousands of cattle to cross the river to northern markets. With the arrival of several railroad lines, by the mid 1870s Waco had become a key launching point for settlers headed west and a hub for regional trade.
Waco is the county seat of McLennan County. The City is the birthplace of Dr Pepper, home of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Waco is also home to the Waco Mammoth National Monument, a 100-plus acre stretch of wooded parkland along the Bosque River. The site, part of the National Parks System, provides a glimpse into the lives of Columbian mammoth bones discovered in Waco along the Bosque River.
With a 2024 population estimated at 147,280 and the larger metropolitan area with a population of over 295,000, Waco is the 22nd largest city in Texas, its population has increasing by over 15% since 2010. Waco is a comparatively young community with a median age of 28.9, below both Texas (34.8) and the U.S. (38.1). The average home value in Waco is $189,656, according to Zillow, with the median sales price (Dec. 2023) at $240,283 compared to $318,067 for Texas and $327,000 for the entire U.S.
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The OpportunityExplore the Opportunity, the qualifications, and ideal candidate.
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The CommunitySee what makes Waco so special and why you'll want to move there.
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Employment BenefitsFind out about the City Government and Employment Benefits.
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