From the record
25 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
93 topographic sheets cover 66 settlements here, and 25 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
25 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
Drawn when these were printed as single large sheets: the town seen from the air, and the county divided into its farms with every owner named. Each opens the original at the Library of Congress.




Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 136 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.















Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 2,090 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 40 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.








































The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.
Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 2,322 of them, burning about 12,323 acres. 26 started naturally and 22 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 1214 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 659 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 198 |
| Smoking | 72 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 66 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 31 |
| Natural | 26 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 22 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 22 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 10 |
| Fireworks | 1 |
| Other causes | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 December 2005 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 400 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | not named |
| 24 December 2005 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 354 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | CENTRAL TX - 50 |
| 25 August 2015 | Natural | 350 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | MORGAN ROAD |
| 29 June 2005 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 300 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | CENTRAL TX - 9 |
| 24 February 2007 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 287 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GAUER |
| 5 February 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 250 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | not named |
| 31 May 2013 | Equipment and vehicle use | 250 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | JANSA/GRAF/SCALES FIRE |
| 31 August 2020 | Equipment and vehicle use | 237 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | BOX RANCH |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 1,083 reports for this county, causing 119 deaths, 638 injuries and about $73,215,100 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Hail | 497 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 381 |
| Flash Flood | 105 |
| Tornado | 68 |
| Lightning | 15 |
| Flood | 10 |
| Heavy Rain | 6 |
| Funnel Cloud | 1 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1953 | Tornado (F5) | not stated | 114 killed, 597 hurt, $25,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Hewitt | 1 killed, $100,000 | Flat Creek near the intersection of Hewitt Drive and Mars Drive, behind Midway High School, flooded over the roadway. The creek also overflowed near the intersection of Panther Way and Panther Run. It was reported that the creek overflowed by at least half a mile, was up to 2 feet over at least one road, and the water was swiftly flowing over the road; like a river. Several cars were stuck in the water. An 18-year-old male died when his car was swept off the road in the dark and swept down the creek. The car was found about 2 miles down the creek, and his body was found the next day near the creek. Part of the asphalt of Panther Way was destroyed in chunks and had to be replaced. |
| June 2015 | Flash Flood | Beverly Hills | 1 killed | In Waco, a homeless man was swept away and drowned when the creek that he was sleeping next to quickly rose in response to heavier rain earlier in the night. The man was asleep behind the Walmart on Franklin Avenue. |
| May 2007 | Lightning | Hallsburg | 1 killed | One person was struck and killed by lightning at Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir in Hallsburg while walking to her car after a boating trip. |
| December 2001 | Flash Flood | Crawford | 1 killed | A nine year old boy drowned as he was attempting to abandon a vehicle at a low water crossing. |
| September 1996 | Flash Flood | Waco | 1 killed | no account filed |
| May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 7 hurt | no account filed |
| October 1981 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 4 hurt, $25,000,000 | no account filed |
| February 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 4 hurt | no account filed |
| October 1972 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 3 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| February 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mcgregor | 3 hurt, $60,000 | A house was damaged in McGregor. Two people were treated for injuries. |
| July 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hewitt | 3 hurt, $50,000 | A minivan was blown over on Interstate 35 in Hewitt. Three people were treated for minor injuries. |
| May 2024 | Tornado (EF1) | Bruceville-Eddy | 2 hurt, $75,000 | This is a continuation of a tornado that formed near Eddy in Falls County. As the tornado traveled northward, it entered southeast McLennan County at 532 pm CDT, and subsequently impacted a single wide mobile home located along Bruceville Lane. This mobile home was rolled multiple times, destroying the structure and resulting in minor damage to an adjacent frame built home (DI 2, DOD 7). Two occupants were in the mobile home and sustained injuries. The tornado traveled farther north approximately half a mile before dissipating before it reached Bruceville and Interstate 35. The tornado was rated an EF-1 in McLennan County with maximum estimated winds of 105 mph. |
| May 2006 | Flash Flood | Hewitt | 2 hurt, $35,000 | High water rescues were required in Hewitt. Numerous roads were barricaded. Water was flowing over the barricades and cars were being swept off of roads. Two teenagers attempting to help a woman who's van was caught in the rising waters had to be rescued as well. One of the teenagers became stuck between the van and the culvert by the strong current. The other boy was washed under the van and through two culverts. Firefighters rescued them and both were taken to the hospital. |
| December 1971 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 2 hurt, $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Robinson | 2 hurt, $5,000 | A house under construction was collapsed by thunderstorm winds, trapping two men in the debris. Both were injured. |
| May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 2 hurt | no account filed |
| March 1973 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | 2 hurt | no account filed |
| June 2007 | Tornado (EF0) | Mcgregor | 1 hurt, $50,000 | A brief tornado touched down in the middle of a baseball game, pushing over a dumpster and causing damage to trees and light poles. A woman was thrown against a fence and had to be taken to the hospital. Many spectators at the ballfield saw the tornado, and had to hold the bleachers down so they would not be picked up. Large tree limbs fell on nearby power lines, causing a power outage in the area for about five hours. Another limb shattered a truck windshield. Nearby residents reported that the tornado also threw a heavyweight lifting bench weighing 150 lbs across a yard and damaged a garage door. |
| April 1974 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 hurt, $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2021 | Lightning | Woodway | 1 hurt | A man was struck by lightning while under a tree in the Woodway area. He lost some teeth and had burns on his hands. |
| September 1997 | Lightning | Bellmead | 1 hurt | A man was struck and injured by lightning. |
| May 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| April 2023 | Hail | Waco | $4,000,000 | Large hail up to 4.5 inches was reported 2 miles east of Waco. Numerous vehicles and buildings were damaged from the large hail that fell in and around Waco. |
| May 2006 | Tornado (F2) | Waco | $3,000,000 | A tornado was reported on Waco Drive by the media, just north of the damage swath produced by the downburst. A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Fort Worth found that a tornado formed south of New Road and just west of Spur 298 (Franklin Avenue), or just north of Richland Mall. The tornado reached its peak intensity of lower F2 and did the most damage just east of Spur 298. Several commercial buildings had large sections of their roofs and walls damaged. A Coca-Cola Bottling Plant lost much of its roof and most of its inventory was damaged. A spokesman for the company stated that the tornado did well over $1 million worth of damage. An owner of an auto repair shop which was badly damaged estimated damages at $600,000. A horse barn owned by Baylor University was leveled and two horses killed. Numerous trees were downed and power lines snapped in and east of this area. The circulation weakened as it approached Interstate 35, and the tornado dissipated approximately three-fourths of a mile east of Interstate 35. A countywide disaster declaration was issued by the McLennan County judge. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $3,000,000 | Isolated wind damage was noted in western McLennan County, including Crawford, Valley Mills, McGregor, and western Waco. Widespread wind damage occurred across southern McLennan County near Woodway, McGregor, Speegleville, Hewitt, Robinson, Bruceville-Eddy, and south Waco. The damage extended along and south of the Highway 6 corridor. A large sycamore tree was uprooted in McGregor and fell onto a parked car. Three tractor trailers were blown over on Interstate 35 near mile marker 329...about 7 miles south-southwest of Waco. Thousands of trees, power lines, and signs were blown down across the county. Power was knocked out throughout Waco. Winds of 50-80 MPH damaged roofs and blew one roof onto a police patrol car. Roof damage was reported at the Ace Hardware on Hewitt Drive, two miles north of Hewitt; at the Masterfoods/M&M Mars building on Texas Central Parkway, two miles north-northeast of Hewitt; and at the Colorite Corporation on Jewitt Lane, two miles northwest of the community of Elm Mott. A 2,400 square foot house was lifted from its concrete foundation and deposited several yards away. The builder estimated damages at $100,000. A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Fort Worth determined that a downburst was responsible for the damage. Due to the extent of the damage, a countywide disaster declaration was issued by the McLennan County judge. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Ocee | $2,000,000 | A CoCoRaHS Observer located southeast of Valley Mills reported an average hailstone size of 1.25 inches, but the largest measured hail stone was 4 inches in diameter. Large amounts of hail fell for roughly 20 minutes and shredded leaves, damaged roof shingles, dented cars, and broke house windows. The school district had to cancel school due to damage sustained from the large hail. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Ocee | $750,000 | Large amounts of baseball sized hail was reported southeast of Valley Mills. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Bosqueville | $500,000 | Softball sized hail was reported in Bosqueville near the Waco Regional Airport. HVAC damage was reported at the airport along with other notable damage due to the large hail. |
| March 2007 | Tornado (EF1) | Mcgregor | $500,000 | The back half of a rodeo arena was destroyed. The building was made out of metal. |
| October 2001 | Tornado (F2) | West | $500,000 | The second McLennan county tornado touched down just southwest of Tokio then moved east northeast and dissipated 1.3 miles east of West. Homes, a church, and several businesses were damaged in Tokio. After moving through Tokio, the tornado moved along FM 1858, causing heavy damage to wood-frame structures, mobile homes, storage buildings, and minor damage to several brick homes. As the tornado moved across the extreme southern edge of West, several homes and storage buildings were damaged. |
| July 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Crawford | $500,000 | An auto repair shop was severely damaged by high winds. The roofs of two mobile homes and several hay barns were blown off. Power lines were also blown down. |
| September 1993 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $500,000 | to 2 NE Lacy- Lakeview,A tornado touched down just southeast of the intersection of highway 340 and Farm-to-Market Road 2491, moving nearly due north to the Texas State Technical Institute before lifting. In addition to moving parked aircraft, a building's roof was lifted. |
| April 1986 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| February 1984 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| March 1973 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| November 1972 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| February 1971 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 2024 | Tornado (EF2) | Tours | $200,000 | A tornado developed north of Tours, just west of Berger Road. This tornado initially damaged trees and a shed, but strengthened as it crossed Czech Hall Road. The tornado hit a property on County Line Road causing EF-2 damage to a barn and a shop on the property. The tornado scattered heavy farm material into the field to the east. The tornado continued into Hill County crossing CR 3238 where an eye witness reported it dissipated before developing the next tornado. Maximum estimated winds were 110 to 115 mph. |
| April 2024 | Tornado (EF1) | Erath | $200,000 | A second tornado from the same supercell occurred west of Waco damaging neighborhoods on either side of Wortham Bend Road near China Spring Rd. Damage in these neighborhoods consisted of damaged trees, downed fences, broken windows, and mostly minor roof damage. One home lost most of the front part of its roof, and a few homes were impaled with flying fence panels. Maximum estimated winds were 95 mph. |
| April 2006 | Tornado (F1) | Waco | $200,000 | The National Weather Service in Fort Worth conducted a damage survey of the tornado that occurred in eastern Waco. Damage was first noted south of Kendall Lane, approximately 1.25 miles west of Loop 340. The tornado partially collapsed a two story house and damaged two other houses and numerous barns and outbuildings as it moved north-northeast between Kendall Lane and Orchard Lane. Several trees were also knocked down. The tornado dissipated north of Orchard Lane and deposited debris in a field to the north. Two people were injured as well as several horses. |
| October 2015 | Flood | Mart | $150,000 | Several roads remained flooded after approximately 5-15 inches of rain fell across the county. Many creeks and streams remained swollen, flooding the areas around them. The left lane of Interstate 35 southbound near Eddy remained closed. In Elm Mott, at least 10 families along Lincoln City Road were cut off for nearly two weeks until flood waters drained. As the lake level continued to rise on the 25th, some county roads near Lake Waco had to be closed due to waters spilling over the roads. The Brazos River at Waco rose over 25 feet, flooding residents along Honey Lane in Downsville southeast of Waco. The water took nearly a week to recede enough to allow residents to return to their homes. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waco | $150,000 | Report from channel 25 in Waco. The west side of Waco was the hardest hit section of town by the high winds. One business was unroofed, with numerous reports of trees blown onto homes, and power lines blown down. |
| May 1997 | Tornado (F3) | Moody | $150,000 | The third tornado developed about 1.5 miles east-southeast of Moody in open country just south of Farm-to-Market Road 107. The tornado moved south-southwest and destroyed a house and a barn. Another house was damaged and numerous trees were uprooted. Two vehicles were tossed several hundred feet by the tornado. The strong tornado dissipated about 0.5 miles after moving into extreme northern Bell County. |
| November 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waco | $150,000 | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Woodway | $125,000 | Wind estimated at 80 mph did widespread damage to trees and power lines. At least 50 streets were blocked by downed trees and utility poles. |
| April 2026 | Hail | Hallsburg | $100,000 | Numerous social media photos showed hail ranging from golf ball to baseball size in Hallsburg. Significant damage occurred to vehicles with destroyed windshields and large dents. |
| November 2025 | Hail | Hallsburg | $100,000 | A social media video indicated that hail up to golfball sized covered the ground in the city of Hallsburg. Wind-driven hail also caused siding damage to several buildings in the Hallsburg area. |
| April 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lorena | $100,000 | Two neighboring properties were damaged by winds between Lorena and Moody. On one property, the porch of the home was damaged and a 30x40 metal barn with a steel frame was demolished. On the second property the roof was torn off a barndominium. Large trees were also damaged on both properties. |
| October 2015 | Flash Flood | Elm Mott | $100,000 | High water rescues were ongoing near Elm Mott. In addition, at least 10 families along Lincoln City Road were cut off when flood waters overtook the road in the 1400 to 1800 block. |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Hewitt | $100,000 | Castleman Creek in Hewitt overflowed its banks due to heavy rainfall and flooded Hewitt Park. It was reported that the water was as high as the 4-foot-tall disc golf baskets in some areas. The flood waters flooded the park restrooms. A 40-foot-long section of Earle Street near the creek had to be replaced after the flood waters ripped up the road and moved it about 100 feet. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Waco | $100,000 | Strong thunderstorm winds damaged the 18-foot tall, 5,900-pound statue on top of the McLennan County Courthouse. The statue of Themis lost her left arm. The arm was made of lightweight metal. |
| March 2012 | Flash Flood | China Spg | $100,000 | Many cars were stranded at the intersection of Hewitt Drive and Chapel Road near Woodway. Many streets were also closed near this location. Additional roads were closed throughout the cities of Waco and Robinson, and one high water rescue was conducted in Waco at the intersection of North 27th Street and Colonial Avenue. Interstate 35 was closed for several hours near the Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center. A few cars were swept away at the intersection of 23rd Street and Franklin Avenue. |
| June 2010 | Flash Flood | Ocee | $100,000 | High water was reported in a residential structure in the city of Lorena. Several intersections in Hewitt were barricaded due to high water and Farm-to-Market Road 185 west of Waco Lake was closed due to flash flooding. Several roads by the Waco airport were also closed due to high water. Flooding was also reported in Lacy-Lakeview and Lorena. |
| October 2001 | Tornado (F2) | Crawford | $100,000 | The first tornado to hit the county touched down 2.5 miles southwest of Valley Mills, then moved east northeast and dissipated 1.5 miles east of Valley Mills. The most significant damage was to a frame house near the beginning of the damage path. There was also damage to house roofs and mobile homes along Cap Fiske Road, Highway 317, and near Highway 6 on the southern edge of Valley Mills. |
| September 1996 | Heavy Rain | Waco | $100,000 | no account filed |
| March 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Spring Vly | $80,000 | The National Weather Service in Fort Worth conducted a damge survey and found that damge which occurred northwest of Lorena was due to a downburst. Damage was noted along FM 2416 and Chapel Road just north of FM 2113. Several trees were pushed over...large limbs were broken...shingles removed from roofs...and sheds damaged...and lawn equipment thrown around. Farther east...between Chapel Road and FM 2837...additional damage was noted to trees and a frame of a house under construction. Several mobile homes just west of FM 2837 had portions of their lower skirtings removed. A power pole was pushed over along FM 2113 west of FM 2837. Maximum winds were likely 65-70 MPH. |
| September 1997 | Lightning | Bellmead | $80,000 | Lightning struck a house and started a fire that resulted in major damage. |
| April 2012 | Hail | (Act)Madison-Cooper | $75,000 | Golf ball sized hail was reported near Waco Regional Airport. The spotter also reported damage to cars and shingles on homes. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moody | $75,000 | Strong winds destroyed a mobile home and two barns. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 20 workings inside this county. 16 still produce and 4 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 11 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 4 |
| Silica | 2 |
| Limestone, General, Stone, Crushed/Broken | 1 |
| Limestone, General, Clay | 1 |
| Clay | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonk Quarry | Limestone, General, Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | Limestone | |
| Universal Atlas Clay Pit | Clay | Producer | ||
| Waco Quarry | Limestone, General, Clay | Producer | Sedimentary | |
| Grayson Pit | Silica | Past Producer | ||
| Pendley Pit | Silica | Producer | ||
| Tonk Plant | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Tonk Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Universal Atlas Cement Plant | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Waco Quarry & Plant | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Bosqueville Pit & Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Burt Plant & Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| H and B No 1 | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| H and B No 2 | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| H and B No 3 | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Luckett Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Neeley Sand and Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Waco Sand and Gravel Co Pit & Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Young Brazos River Dredge | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Young Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
Waco census division · 76712 · On Middle Bosque River · Lorena quadrangle
16 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Waco census division · 76708 · On Keys Branch · Waco West quadrangle
19 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Waco census division · 76708 · On Keys Branch · Waco West quadrangle
19 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Moody-Lorena census division · 76630 · On Lusk Branch · Bruceville quadrangle
15 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Crawford census division · On Long Branch · Speegleville quadrangle
19 sheets, 1892 to 1985
China Spring census division · 76633 · China Springs quadrangle
18 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Crawford census division · 76638 · On Wasp Creek · Crawford quadrangle
16 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Waco census division · 76704 · On Marlin Branch · Waco East quadrangle
18 sheets, 1892 to 1985
China Spring census division · 76633 · On Spring Branch · Speegleville quadrangle
19 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Mart census division · 76682 · On Tehuacana Creek · Waco East quadrangle
18 sheets, 1892 to 1985
China Spring census division · 76708 · On Possum Creek · Gholson quadrangle
18 sheets, 1892 to 1985
China Spring census division · 76708 · On North Fork Rock Creek · Gholson quadrangle
18 sheets, 1892 to 1985
West census division · 76705 · On Patten Branch · Gholson quadrangle
18 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Waco census division · 76655 · On Crow Creek · Robinson quadrangle
15 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Waco census division · 76712 · On Cloice Creek · South Bosque quadrangle
16 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Waco census division · 76712 · On Davis Branch · Speegleville quadrangle
19 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Moody-Lorena census division · 76655 · Near Hubby Hill · South Bosque quadrangle
16 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Axtell census division · 76691 · On Cottonwood Creek · West quadrangle
14 sheets, 1892 to 1985
Waco census division · 76705 · On Marlin Branch · Waco East quadrangle
18 sheets, 1892 to 1985