Waco is a mid-sized city located in Central Texas. The city has an estimated total population of 122,222, according to a 2007 census.

History
Before the founding of the town, a Wichita Native American group known as the "Waco" or "Hueco" lived on the land of present-day downtown Waco. In 1824 Thomas M. Duke explored the area and described to Stephen F. Austin the 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 planted in corn, beans, pumpkins, and melons and that tended in good order. I think they cannot raise more than One Hundred Warriors."

In 1866, Waco's leading citizens ventured on an ambitious project to build the first bridge to span the wide Brazos River. They formed the Waco Bridge Company to build the 475-foot brick Waco Suspension Bridge, which was called the longest span of any bridge west of the Mississippi River when completed in 1870. The economic consequences of the Waco bridge were immediate, attracting cattle runs from the nearby Chisholm Trail and increasing the population of the city, as immigrants now had a safe passage for their horse drawn carriages to cross the river.

Baylor University was founded in Independence, Texas, in 1845, making it the oldest institution of higher learning in Texas. It moved to Waco in 1886 and merged with Waco University, becoming an integral part of Waco.