Waco has evolved into a unique and appealing place to live and do business thanks to the city's rich diversity, abundant natural resources and convenient location. Home to big city advantages without the big city hassles, the city manages to avoid the troubles of heavy traffic, long commutes or a high cost of living. When moving to Waco, you will find the perfect place to enjoy a suburban lifestyle while having easy access to downtown and several major highways.
History:
In 1856, Waco, Texas was incorporated as a town. When two other railroads, the St. Louis and Southwestern and the Missouri-Kansas-Texas lines, built into Waco in the early 1880s, the city became the hub of a transportation network linking the area's cotton farmers with factories and consumers across the nation. By 1900 there were over 20,00 people living in the city, making it the sixth largest population center in Texas. During World War I, Waco was selected as the site for Camp MacArthur, an infantry training base covering more than 10,000 acres of what is now the northwestern part of the city. The 35,000 troops assigned to the camp between 1917 and 1919 virtually doubled Waco's population for the duration of the war. By 1930, Waco had grown to a population of 53,848, but the onset of the Great Depression slowed the city's momentum. Ultimately, many businesses closed their doors and unemployment rose. World War II revived demand for cotton and cotton products, and Waco's economy was invigorated. The Waco Urban Renewal Project was begun in 1958 to deal with the problem of inner-city blight. Slums were cleared and a number of new buildings were constructed, including new apartment complexes, a shopping center near Baylor University and a convention center. The Waco area received worldwide attention in 1993 during a confrontation between federal officers and the "Davidians" led by David Koresh.
Economy:
Waco benefits from its location in the heart of the Texas manufacturing and technology corridor on Interstate Highway 35, just 90 miles south of Dallas and 100 miles north of Austin. The city has the resources, land, infrastructure, labor force, essential services and incentives for industrial development. The city is working to attract new business to the area by providing an array of local incentives to attract business and industry and encourage quality development. Aerospace and expanding businesses serving the U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security is projected to be a strong growth area. The region is projected to have strong growth in transportation equipment, plastics and rubber, fabricated metal and machinery manufacturing. Logistics, and the wholesale trade firms that are an integral component of the process, is a key growth sector. This sector also includes value-added technology services and networks that manage and optimize the entire process. Finally, tourism provides opportunities for employees needing to gain work experience. It also plays a key role in marketing a successful tourism economy where tourists and business people spend outside dollars in the community.
Tourism:
The Cameron Park Zoo is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. Head to the park with your family and enjoy everything from lions, monkeys, elephants and exotic birds. You will be pleasantly surprised to find a smaller town like Waco playing host to a truly wonderful zoo. Next, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is a magnificent museum highlighting the past and present of the Texas Rangers organization. With its extensive collection of memorabilia, movie clips and artifacts, you will need at least couple to tour the museum and its gift shop. Then, head over to the Dr. Pepper Museum. Located in the turn of the century bottling plant, this museum has everything Dr. Pepper. For shopping, Sironia is one of the first shopping institutions in Waco. It offers everything from fine jewelers and unique boutiques to antiques, chic fashion and large retailers.