Local History

Waco Grew Up as a Cattle Town on the Chisholm Trail

After the Civil War, Waco became a major cattle crossing point, with hundreds of thousands of cattle driven through town by 1871.

McLennan County History & Culture

The city was laid out in 1849 on the site of a former Waco Indian village near the Brazos River. After 1868, Waco was on a spur of the Chisholm Trail. Between 600,000 and 700,000 cattle had passed through by 1871, earning the town the nickname 'Six Shooter Junction.'

In 1870 the Waco Bridge Company completed a suspension bridge across the Brazos. The bridge accelerated growth and the city was reincorporated as the City of Waco. Baylor University relocated here in 1887. The suspension bridge still stands and is a local landmark.

Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook of Texas — Waco, TX

More McLennan County notes

Property Tax

McLennan CAD Handles Your Property Appraisal

McLennan Central Appraisal District sets property values for all 44 taxing entities in the county, but a separate office collects the tax.

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Property Tax Exemption

File for a Homestead Exemption to Lower Your Tax Bill

Texas homeowners who live in their home can file for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of the property.

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Agricultural Appraisal

Ag Valuation Can Cut Taxes on Rural Land

Land used mainly for farming or ranching can be taxed on its agricultural value instead of its market value, which is usually much lower.

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Appraisal Protest

You Can Protest Your Property Appraisal

Property owners in McLennan County can formally challenge their appraised value each year if they believe it is too high.

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