Waco is the county seat of McLennen County, 90 miles north of Austin. In 1838 Neil McLennen built a cabin near the confluence of the Bosque and Brazos Rivers. He later sold his land to Jacob De Cordova, who hired former Texas Ranger George B. Erath to survey the land. Erath plotted the first city block of the town in 1849 and later that year Shapley Ross built the first house in the new town.
Waco soon thrived as an inland cotton distribution center, and the first bridge across the Brazos was completed in 1870. Herds of cattle heading north on the Chisholm Trail frequently crossed the bridge, which required a toll, while others were loaded on barges to continue the journey.
Baylor University moved to Waco in 1886 and quickly became influential in local affairs. William Cowper Brann was publisher and editor of the Iconoclast newspaper, and no friend of the university or Christians in general, once writing "I have nothing against the Baptists. I just believe they were not held under long enough" (Conger, 1964, Baptism by Immersion). (Credit Wiki.) Things came to a head on March 31 1898 when Tom Davis, a supporter of the school, walked into a tavern, produced a pistol, and shot Brann in the chest. Brann returned fire, killing Davis on the spot. Brann managed to walk home but died the next day.
During WWII Waco was home to Waco Army Airfield, training pilots for the war effort. Doris "Dorie" Miller was an African-American Waco native who was aboard the USS West Virginia on December 7 1941, and was awarded the Navy Cross for bravery under fire. His story is worth reading. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Miller
Today, Waco is home to around 135,000, with a metro population of about 262,000. Baylor University, Waco Independent School District, two hospitals and the City of Waco are among the major employers.
Waco is also the original home of Dr. Pepper. More on that later.
I'll post some pictures tonight or tomorrow.
Waco soon thrived as an inland cotton distribution center, and the first bridge across the Brazos was completed in 1870. Herds of cattle heading north on the Chisholm Trail frequently crossed the bridge, which required a toll, while others were loaded on barges to continue the journey.
Baylor University moved to Waco in 1886 and quickly became influential in local affairs. William Cowper Brann was publisher and editor of the Iconoclast newspaper, and no friend of the university or Christians in general, once writing "I have nothing against the Baptists. I just believe they were not held under long enough" (Conger, 1964, Baptism by Immersion). (Credit Wiki.) Things came to a head on March 31 1898 when Tom Davis, a supporter of the school, walked into a tavern, produced a pistol, and shot Brann in the chest. Brann returned fire, killing Davis on the spot. Brann managed to walk home but died the next day.
During WWII Waco was home to Waco Army Airfield, training pilots for the war effort. Doris "Dorie" Miller was an African-American Waco native who was aboard the USS West Virginia on December 7 1941, and was awarded the Navy Cross for bravery under fire. His story is worth reading. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Miller
Today, Waco is home to around 135,000, with a metro population of about 262,000. Baylor University, Waco Independent School District, two hospitals and the City of Waco are among the major employers.
Waco is also the original home of Dr. Pepper. More on that later.
I'll post some pictures tonight or tomorrow.
Last edited: