West, Texas facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids West, Texas
City
Top: Czech Stop & Little Czech Bakery, Bottom Left: Aerial view of the town of West, Texas — looking northeast, Bottom Right: View from Oak Street
Nickname(s): Home of the Official Kolache of the Texas Legislature
Location of West, Texas

Country	United States
State	Texas
County	McLennan
Incorporated	1892
Area
• Total	1.66 sq mi (4.30 km²)
• Land	1.66 sq mi (4.30 km²)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Elevation	650 ft (200 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	2,531
• Density	1,797.71/sq mi (694.12/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	76691
Area code(s)	254, exchange 826
FIPS code	48-77332
GNIS feature ID	2412216
Website	City Website

West is a small city in McLennan County, Texas, United States. In 2020, about 2,531 people lived there. The city is named after Thomas West, who was its first postmaster.

West is located in north-central Texas. It's about 70 miles (113 km) south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It is also 20 miles (32 km) north of Waco and 120 miles (193 km) north of Austin, the state capital. Even though it's called West, the city is not in the region known as West Texas. People sometimes say "West comma Texas" to avoid confusion.

West is known for having a large number of Czech Texans. Many people there have Czech roots.

History of West, Texas
Geography and Climate
- Climate in West
Population and People
Things to Do in West
Schools in West
Transportation
Famous People from West
Gallery
See also

History of West, Texas

The first families settled in northern McLennan County in the 1840s. They were farmers and ranchers. They came from the east because the government sold good land to help build schools in Texas. These early settlers grew crops like cotton, wheat, and grain sorghum. They also raised cattle.

The farming community grew around a fresh water spring. This area became known as Bold Springs. By 1860, Bold Springs had about 300 people. It offered services like a blacksmith, churches, and a post office.

The Railroad Arrives

In 1881, the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad built tracks between Hillsboro and Waco. The railroad passed through land owned by Thomas West. He had moved to the area in 1859 and was the postmaster of Bold Springs.

Mr. West sold some of his land to the railroad company. A train depot and station were built there. The land next to the tracks was divided into smaller pieces. These were sold to people who wanted to start businesses. The new station had a post office. Since Mr. West was the postmaster, the settlement was first called West's Station. Later, it became West Station, and then just West. Mr. West opened the first general store. He became a successful businessman and later owned a hotel, a furniture store, and a bank.

Growth and Czech Culture

The railroad helped the area grow a lot in the 1880s. More businesses opened, and more land was bought. Many Czech immigrants came to West. They bought the rich farmland to start a new life. They also opened businesses and shared their European culture. By the 1890s, Czech businesses were doing very well in West.

On June 11, 1892, West officially became a town. It was the main business center for the area. There were cotton gins, grocery stores, churches, schools, and doctors' offices.

The Crash at Crush

Just three miles (5 km) south of West, a temporary city called Crush was built. This was for a special event on September 15, 1896. It was called The Crash at Crush. The Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad staged a head-on collision between two locomotives. This was a publicity stunt.

More than 30,000 people came to watch the crash. The site was named "Crush" after William Crush, who thought of the idea. Around 4 p.m., the trains sped toward each other. The steam boilers exploded when they crashed. Pieces of metal flew into the crowd. Two people died, and many others were hurt. A Texas Historical Marker on Interstate 35 remembers this event.

Modern West

Around the year 1900, West got electricity, running water, and natural gas. The population of West and the surrounding area continued to grow. Many people living in West today are descendants of the first settlers. They still farm the land and run businesses. Some older residents still speak the Czech language.

2013 Explosion Event

On April 17, 2013, a fire started at the West Fertilizer Co. plant. This plant stored ammonium nitrate, a type of fertilizer that can explode. The fire led to two huge explosions very quickly.

The blast killed 15 people, including 12 first responders (like firefighters). At least 200 people were injured. The explosion destroyed nearby schools, an apartment complex, and a nursing home. It also damaged hundreds of homes. The explosion was so powerful it was felt like a 2.1 magnitude earthquake.

President Barack Obama and Texas Governor Rick Perry attended a memorial for the first responders. An investigation looked into the cause of the fire and explosion. It was later concluded that the explosion was caused by a fire that accidentally started inside the plant.

Geography and Climate

West covers about 4.0 square miles (10.4 km²), and all of it is land. Most of the city is on the east side of Interstate 35.

Climate in West

The weather in West has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. West has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain and has warm temperatures for most of the year.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	851	—
1910	1,645	93.3%
1920	1,629	−1.0%
1930	1,807	10.9%
1940	1,979	9.5%
1950	2,130	7.6%
1960	2,352	10.4%
1970	2,406	2.3%
1980	2,485	3.3%
1990	2,515	1.2%
2000	2,692	7.0%
2010	2,807	4.3%
2020	2,531	−9.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

**West racial composition as of 2020**
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	1,955	77.24%
Black or African American (NH)	76	3.0%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	8	0.32%
Asian (NH)	2	0.08%
Pacific Islander (NH)	1	0.04%
Some Other Race (NH)	5	0.2%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	119	4.7%
Hispanic or Latino	365	14.42%
Total	2,531

In 2020, there were 2,531 people living in West. There were 1,015 households and 635 families.

In 2010, the city had 2,807 people. Most people (89.0%) were White. About 3.9% were African American. A large part of the White population has Czech roots. In 1997, West was officially named "Home of the Official Kolache of the Texas Legislature." A kolache is a sweet pastry.

In 2010, about 28.3% of the people were 19 years old or younger. About 21.0% were 65 years or older. The average age was 38.9 years. West has slightly more females (53%) than males (47%).

Things to Do in West

The Czech Stop and Little Czech Bakery in West

Westfest is a fun festival held in West. It celebrates the city's large Czech population and their heritage. People enjoy Czech food, music, and dancing.

Schools in West

The city of West is served by the West Independent School District. Students in West attend West High School. Their sports teams are called the Trojans.