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Physical Features: Central Texas county of mostly Blackland prairie, but rolling hills in west; drains to Bosque River, Brazos River, and Lake Waco, Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir, Lake Creek Lake; heavy, loam, sandy soils.

Economy: Agribusiness, education, health services.

History: Tonkawas, Wichitas, and Wacos in area. Anglo-American settlers arrived in the 1840s. Indians removed to Brazos reservations in 1854. County created from Milam County in 1850, organized the same year; named for settler, Neil McLennan Sr.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 55.6; Black, 14.9; Hispanic, 26.7; Asian, 1.8; Other, 1.2; Two or more races, 2.1.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 3,528; deaths, 2,123; marriages, 1,666; divorces, 810.

Recreation: Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, museum; Texas Sports Hall of Fame; Dr Pepper Museum; Cameron Park; drag boat races April and May; zoo; historic sites, homes; museums; libraries, art center; symphony; civic theater; Baylor University events; Heart o’ Texas Fair in October.

Minerals: Sand, gravel, limestone.

Agriculture: Corn, silage, wheat, beef cattle, dairies. Market value $179.7 million.

Education: Baylor University; community college; Texas State Technical College; university extensions.

WACO (139,324) county seat; manufacturing, higher education, medical services/hospital, government/services, finance; riverside park, historic suspension bridge, zoo; Magnolia Silos market; Waco Mammoth National Monument; wine festivals in April and October.

Hewitt (15,169) medical services/hospital, construction, retail; car show and concert in April.

West (2,871) famous for Czech foods; varied manufacturing; Westfest Labor Day weekend.

Waco Suspension Bridge, built in 1869. Photo by John Pronk.

Other towns include: Axtell (300); Bellmead (10,771); Beverly Hills (1,994); Bruceville-Eddy (1,865, partly in Falls County); China Spring (1,419); Crawford (754); Elm Mott (300); Gholson (1,118); Hallsburg (464); Lacy-Lakeview (7,010); Leroy (345); Lorena (1,776); Mart (2,041) agricultural center, some manufacturing, museum, juvenile correction facility.

Also, McGregor (5,296) agriculture, manufacturing, distribution; private telephone museum; Frontier Founders Day in September; Moody (1,426) agriculture, commuting to Waco, Temple; library; Cotton Harvest fest in September; Riesel (1,051); Robinson (11,904); Ross (285); Woodway (9,250).

Part of Golinda (588, mostly in Falls County) and part of Valley Mills (1,292, mostly in Bosque County).