Downtown, Waco, Texas
| Waco, Texas | ||
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| City | ||
From left to right, top to bottom: Downtown, McLennan County Courthouse, Waco Suspension Bridge, Dr. Pepper Museum, Waco Mammoth National Monument, Baylor University, Waco Hippodrome, William Cameron Park, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and Austin Avenue in Downtown
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| Nickname(s): "Heart of Texas" | ||
 Location within McLennan County and Texas |
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| Coordinates: 31°33′5″N 97°9′21″W / 31.55139°N 97.15583°WCoordinates: 31°33′5″N 97°9′21″W / 31.55139°N 97.15583°W | ||
| Country |
 United States |
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| State |
 Texas
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| County | McLennan | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-manager | |
| • City Council |
Mayor Kyle Deaver Wilbert Austin, Sr. Alice Rodriguez John Kinnaird Dillon Meek Jim Holmes |
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| • City Manager | Dale Fisseler, P.E. | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 95.5 sq mi (247.4 km2) | |
| • Land | 84.2 sq mi (218.1 km2) | |
| • Water | 11.3 sq mi (29.3 km2) 11.85% | |
| Elevation | 470 ft (143.3 m) | |
| Population (2016 Est.) | ||
| • City | 134,432 | |
| • Density | 1,350/sq mi (521.5/km2) | |
| • Metro | 265,207 | |
| Demonym(s) | Wacoan | |
| Time zone | Central (UTC−6) | |
| • Summer (DST) | Central (UTC−5) | |
| ZIP codes | 76700-76799 | |
| Area code | 254 | |
| FIPS code | 48-76000 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1370701 | |
| Interstates |  |
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| U.S. Routes |
 
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| Website | Waco-Texas |
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Waco (/ˈweɪkoʊ/ WAY-koh) is a city which is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2010 population of 124,805, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the state. The US Census 2016 population estimate is 134,432 The Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of McLennan and Falls Counties, which had a 2010 population of 234,906. Falls County was added to the Waco MSA in 2013. The US Census 2016 population estimate for the Waco MSA is 265,207.
Indigenous peoples occupied areas along the river for thousands of years. In historic times, the area of present-day Waco was occupied by the Wichita Indian tribe known as the "Waco" (Spanish: Hueco or Huaco).
In 1824, Thomas M. Duke was sent to explore the area after the Waco people tried to defend themselves and their lands from settlers. His report to Stephen F. Austin, described the Waco village:
"This town is situated on the West Bank of the River. They have a spring almost as cold as ice itself. All we want is some Brandy and Sugar to have Ice Toddy. They have about 400 acres (1.6 km2) planted in corn, beans, pumpkins, and melons and that tended in good order. I think they cannot raise more than One Hundred Warriors."
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Wikipedia