Waco, Texas

Waco
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, Cameron Park, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and Austin Avenue in Downtown
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, Cameron Park, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and Austin Avenue in Downtown
Flag of Waco
Official seal of Waco
Coat of arms of Waco
Nickname(s): 
"Heart of Texas"
"Buckle of the Bible Belt"[1]
Location within McLennan County and Texas
Location within McLennan County and Texas
Waco is located in Texas
Waco
Waco
Location of Waco in the state of Texas
Waco is located in the United States
Waco
Waco
Location of Waco in the United States
Waco is located in North America
Waco
Waco
Location of Waco in North America
Coordinates: 31°33′5″N 97°9′21″W / 31.55139°N 97.15583°W / 31.55139; -97.15583
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyMcLennan
Named forThe Waco people
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • MayorDillon Meek
 • City council
Council members
  • Andrea J. Barefield
  • Alice Rodriguez
  • Josh Borderud
  • Kelly Palmer
  • Jim Holmes
 • City managerBradley Ford
Area
 • City101.15 sq mi (261.98 km2)
 • Land88.73 sq mi (229.82 km2)
 • Water12.42 sq mi (32.16 km2)  11.85%
Elevation
470 ft (143.3 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City138,486
 • Estimate 
(2022)[3]
143,984
 • Density1,569.16/sq mi (605.86/km2)
 • Urban192,844 (US: 201st)
 • Urban density2,145.6/sq mi (828.4/km2)
 • Metro
304,865 (US: 168th)
DemonymWacoan
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (Central)
ZIP Codes
76701-76708, 76710-76712, 76714-76716, 76797-76799
Area code254
FIPS code48-76000[5]
GNIS feature ID1370701[6]
WebsiteWaco-Texas.com

Waco (/ˈwk/ WAY-koh) is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States.[7] It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a U.S. census estimated 2022 population of 143,984, making it the 24th-most populous city in the state.[8][3] The Waco metropolitan statistical area consists of McLennan, Falls and Bosque counties, which had a 2020 population of 295,782.[9] Bosque County was added to the Waco MSA in 2023. The 2023 U.S. census population estimate for the Waco metropolitan area was 304,865 residents.[10]

  1. ^ "How Many of These Texas City Nicknames Do You Know?". Texas Standard. July 29, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 50,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2022 Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 (SUB-IP-EST2022-ANNRNK) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division Release Date: May 2023
  4. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  8. ^ "QuickFacts : Waco city, Texas". Census.gov. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  9. ^ American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau Archived June 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  10. ^ Annual and Cumulative Estimates of Resident Population Change for Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States and Puerto Rico and Metropolitan Statistical Area Rankings: April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2023 (CBSA-MET-EST2023-CHG)