Waxahachie, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waxahachie, Texas
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
The Ellis County Courthouse in Waxahachie
|
|
| Nickname(s):
The Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas
|
|
Location of Waxahachie, Texas
|
|
 |
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Ellis |
| Founded | 1850 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 50.73 sq mi (131.40 km2) |
| • Land | 49.50 sq mi (128.21 km2) |
| • Water | 1.23 sq mi (3.19 km2) |
| Elevation | 623 ft (190 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 41,140 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
|
43,368 |
| • Density | 767.43/sq mi (296.31/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | Waxahachian |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
75165, 75167, 75168
|
| Area code(s) | 214, 469, 945, 972 |
| FIPS code | 48-76816 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412196 |
Waxahachie (pronounced WOK-sə-HATCH-ee) is a city in Texas, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Ellis County, Texas. In 2020, about 41,140 people lived there.
The city was started in 1850 and became an official city in 1871. Many people in Waxahachie work in factories or for schools. The city has schools for all ages, a community college, and a private university. In the mid-1980s, Waxahachie became a popular place to film movies and TV shows.
Contents
What Does the Name Waxahachie Mean?
Some people believe the name "Waxahachie" means "cow" or "buffalo" in an old Native American language.
One idea is that it comes from the Alabama language. This language was spoken by the Alabama-Coushatta tribe. They lived near a place called Waxahatchee Creek in Alabama. In their language, waakasi hachi means "calf's tail." The word waaka came from the Spanish word vaca, meaning "cow."
Another idea is that the name comes from the Muscogee Creek language. Many places in Texas have names from Native American tribes who were forced to move there. In Muscogee, wakvhvce might mean "cow river" or "cow creek." This is because wakv means "cow" and hvcce means "river" or "creek."
Waxahachie's History
Waxahachie was started in August 1850. It became the main city for the new Ellis County. A man named Emory W. Rogers, who moved to Texas in 1839, gave the land for the city.
The city officially became a city on April 28, 1871. In 1875, the state allowed a railroad to be built from Waxahachie. This railroad helped the city grow a lot.
From 1902 to 1942, Trinity University was located in Waxahachie. It was a university connected to the Presbyterian church. Today, the main building of that old university is now part of Nelson University. Trinity University is now in San Antonio.
The city also gave its name to a former United States Naval Ship called the Waxahachie (YTB-814).
In 1988, the area around Waxahachie was chosen for a huge science project. It was called the Superconducting Super Collider. This was going to be the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator. It would have had a tunnel about 87.1 kilometers (54.1 miles) long. Workers dug 17 shafts and bored 23.5 kilometers (14.6 miles) of tunnel. However, the project was stopped by the government in 1993.
Geography and Weather
Waxahachie has hot, humid summers. Its winters are usually mild to cool. The climate is known as a humid subtropical climate.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,354 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,076 | 127.2% | |
| 1900 | 4,215 | 37.0% | |
| 1910 | 6,205 | 47.2% | |
| 1920 | 7,958 | 28.3% | |
| 1930 | 8,042 | 1.1% | |
| 1940 | 8,655 | 7.6% | |
| 1950 | 11,204 | 29.5% | |
| 1960 | 12,749 | 13.8% | |
| 1970 | 13,452 | 5.5% | |
| 1980 | 14,624 | 8.7% | |
| 1990 | 18,168 | 24.2% | |
| 2000 | 21,426 | 17.9% | |
| 2010 | 29,621 | 38.2% | |
| 2020 | 41,140 | 38.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 47,201 | 59.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 41,140 people living in Waxahachie. There were 12,522 households and 9,073 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 22,174 | 53.9% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 5,861 | 14.25% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 153 | 0.37% |
| Asian (NH) | 353 | 0.86% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 52 | 0.13% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 314 | 0.76% |
| Multiracial (NH) | 1,558 | 3.79% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10,675 | 25.95% |
| Total | 41,140 |
Economy and Jobs
Many jobs in Waxahachie are in factories and industries. Companies like Owens Corning, Georgia-Pacific, and International Paper have locations here.
Other big employers include Baylor Scott & White Health (a hospital), the Waxahachie Independent School District, and large stores like Walmart and HEB Grocery. Colleges like Navarro College and Nelson University also provide many jobs.
Fun Things to Do and See
Yearly Events
The Scarborough Renaissance Festival is a fun Renaissance fair located near Waxahachie. It opens every year in April and May and has been running since 1981.
The city also has its annual Gingerbread Trail Festival. During this festival, you can tour many beautiful Gingerbread-style homes.
In early December, there's an event called Bethlehem Revisited. It's a play that shows the story of the birth of Jesus.
The Texas Country Reporter Festival is another popular event. It features artists, craftspeople, music, and food from all over Texas.
Places to Visit
Waxahachie is famous for its amazing Richardsonian Romanesque courthouse. The town also has many beautiful Victorian architecture and Gingerbread-style houses. Some of these old homes have been turned into bed and breakfast inns where people can stay.
The Ellis County Art Association hosts "ART on the Square." This event showcases local art and culture.
Parks and Outdoor Activities
Waxahachie has several parks, including Spring Park, Getzendaner Memorial Park, Richards Park, Chapman Park, and Brown-Singleton Park.
Getzendaner Park is home to the historic Chautauqua Auditorium, which was built in 1902. Lake Waxahachie is a great place for camping and fishing.
Education in Waxahachie
Schools for Kids
Most of Waxahachie is served by the Waxahachie Independent School District (WISD). This district has eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. WISD offers advanced classes and many career and technology courses.
Waxahachie High School is a large school that offers many activities. These include sports like football, volleyball, and basketball. They also have band, drama, choir, and many academic clubs.
Waxahachie Global High School opened in 2007. It focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in a smaller learning environment.
Some parts of Waxahachie are also served by the Ferris, Midlothian, and Red Oak school districts.
Life School is a public charter school system that has a campus in Waxahachie for grades 7-12. In 2014, Life School started building a new high school in Waxahachie for about 1,000 students.
Private Schools
Waxahachie has several private schools. These include Waxahachie Preparatory Academy (for grades K-12), First Christian Day School (up to 8th grade), and St. Joseph Catholic School (up to 8th grade).
Colleges and Universities
Two colleges have campuses in Waxahachie:
- Navarro College is a community college.
- Nelson University is a private, four-year university. It offers college degrees and is connected with the Assemblies of God church.
-
Nelson University in Waxahachie
-
The Farmer Administration Building at Nelson University. This building used to be part of Trinity University.
Media and News
The first newspaper in Waxahachie was called the Waxahachie Argus, started in 1870. The Waxahachie Daily Light newspaper has been serving the town since 1891.
There are also many radio stations that can be heard in Waxahachie. KBEC radio has been broadcasting to the area since 1955.
City Services and Roads
Health Care
For medical emergencies, Waxahachie has Altus Emergency Center and Baylor Scott & White Health. Ennis Regional Medical Center is also nearby. Between 2003 and 2010, the healthcare industry in Waxahachie added many new jobs.
Transportation
Waxahachie has important roads that help people travel around.
Interstate 35E is a major highway that runs north and south around the west side of Waxahachie. It connects to cities like Dallas to the north and Waco to the south.
U.S. Route 287 is another highway that goes northwest to southeast through the north side of the city. It connects to Fort Worth to the west and Ennis to the east.
U.S. Route 77 is a north-south highway that goes through downtown Waxahachie. Many shops and businesses are located along Highway 77.
.svg){kind=small}
Famous People from Waxahachie
Many notable people have connections to Waxahachie:
- Robert Benton: An Oscar-winning writer and director. His movie Places in the Heart was filmed in Waxahachie.
- Jammal Brown: A professional football player.
- Tevin Campbell: A Grammy-nominated R&B singer.
- Emanuel Cleaver: A U.S. Representative.
- Bessie Coleman: The first African-American female pilot. She moved to Waxahachie when she was two years old.
- Frederic Forrest: An Oscar-nominated actor.
- Dale Hansen: A sports news anchor for WFAA-TV in Dallas.
- Desmond Mason: A professional basketball player.
- Byron Nelson: A famous professional golfer.
- Jalen Reagor: A professional football player.
- Paul Richards: A Major League Baseball player, manager, and executive.
- Brian Waters: A professional football player.
Sister Cities
Sabinas, a city in Coahuila, Mexico, has been suggested as a sister city for Waxahachie.
See also
In Spanish: Waxahachie (Texas) para niños
