West, Texas

According to Growtheology, West, Texas is located in the state of Texas and is part of McLennan County. It is a small city with a population of just under 3,000 people as of 2019. Geographically speaking, West is situated on the Balcones Escarpment and is known for its rolling hills and lush vegetation. The climate in West is generally mild, with hot summers and cool winters.

The history of West dates back to the mid-1800s when it was first settled by German immigrants. The area was originally named “Knights Hill” but was later changed to “West” in 1884. Since then, West has grown into a vibrant community and has become known as “The Czech Capital of Texas” due to its large population of Czech-American residents.

When it comes to politics, West has been reliably Republican over the years and tends to vote conservatively on most issues. There are no current elected officials from West at this time but the city does have several active political organizations such as the Tea Party Patriots and the Republican Women’s Club which are both very active in local politics.

West’s economy is largely based on agriculture, with cotton being a major crop in the area for many years now. Other industries that have flourished in recent years include oil production and tourism due to its proximity to Waco and other popular tourist spots nearby.

Education is highly valued by residents of West; there are several schools that serve students from pre-K through 12th grade including two public elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and one alternative school program for students who need extra help academically or behaviorally.

The town also boasts some beautiful landmarks that draw visitors from all over; most notable among them are St Mary’s Catholic Church which dates back to 1883 when it was built by German settlers, an old cotton gin built in 1929 which still stands today as a reminder of West’s agricultural past, and lastly the historic Czechoslovakian Museum which houses artifacts from early settlers from Central Europe who moved to this area during the 19th century .

Population: 2,692. Estimated population in July 2020: 2,711 (+0.7% change)
Males: 1,241 (46.1%), Females: 1,451 (53.9%)

McLennan County

Zip code: 76691

Median resident age: 39.0 years
Median household income: $32,580
Median house value: $54,900

Races in West:

  • White Non-Hispanic (86.4%)
  • Hispanic (8.1%)
  • Black (4.2%)
  • Other race (1.8%)
  • Two or more races (1.3%)
  • American Indian (1.1%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: Czech (39.9%), German (14.5%), United States (10.8%), Irish (7.9%), English (4.0%), French (1.9%).

Elevation: 646 feet

Land area: 1.6 square miles

West, Texas

Population

West, Texas is a small town located in McLennan County, Texas. It has a population of just over 2,800 people as of the 2010 census. The majority of the population is white with a small minority of African-Americans and Hispanics. The median household income is around $50,000 and the median property value is around $100,000.

The town has an agricultural focus with many residents employed in farming and ranching activities. Despite its small size, West has become well known for its annual Czech-style Kolache Festival which draws thousands of visitors each year. It also hosts the WestFest celebration which celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Czech settlers in the area.

In addition to agriculture and festivals, West has several other attractions to offer tourists and locals alike. The West Public Library offers public access to books and other materials while the West Museum displays artifacts from early settlers in the area. There are also several churches located in or near West including Sts Peter & Paul Catholic Church and Sts Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church which are both active congregations today. Finally, there are several parks located within West including Chisholm Trail Park which offers walking trails and playgrounds for children to enjoy.

For population 25 years and over in West

  • High school or higher: 65.2%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.9%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 5.6%
  • Unemployed: 3.4%
  • Mean travel time to work: 26.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in West city

  • Never married: 15.1%
  • Now married: 60.7%
  • Separated: 1.1%
  • Widowed: 12.5%
  • Divorced: 10.6%

6.2% Foreign born (5.4% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: -63 (-2.3%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near West:

  • HILL REGIONAL HOSPITAL (about 15 miles; HILLSBORO, TX)
  • HILLCREST BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER (about 17 miles; WACO, TX)
  • DE PAUL CENTER (about 18 miles; WACO, TX)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to West:

  • WACO REGIONAL (about 17 miles; WACO, TX; Abbreviation: ACT)
  • DRAUGHON-MILLER CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL (about 50 miles; TEMPLE, TX; Abbreviation: TPL)
  • KILLEEN MUNI (about 65 miles; KILLEEN, TX; Abbreviation: ILE)

Other public-use airports nearest to West:

  • TSTC WACO (about 12 miles; WACO, TX; Abbreviation: CNW)
  • WINGS FOR CHRIST INTL FLIGHT ACADEMY (about 14 miles; WACO, TX; Abbreviation: 73F)
  • HILLSBORO MUNI (about 20 miles; HILLSBORO, TX; Abbreviation: 5T5)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to West:

  • TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE-WACO (about 14 miles; WACO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 3,218)
  • MCLENNAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 17 miles; WACO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 3,658)
  • BAYLOR UNIVERSITY (about 18 miles; WACO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 13,183)
  • NAVARRO COLLEGE (about 49 miles; CORSICANA, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,842)
  • TEMPLE COLLEGE (about 52 miles; TEMPLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,054)
  • UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR (about 58 miles; BELTON, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,257)
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON (about 64 miles; ARLINGTON, TX; Full-time enrollment: 15,467)

Schools

Public high school in West:

  • WEST H S (Students: 537; Location: 801 N REAGAN ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in West:

  • WEST EL (Students: 445; Location: 801 N REAGAN ST; Grades: PK – 03)
  • WEST MIDDLE (Students: 302; Location: 801 N REAGAN ST; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • WEST INT (Students: 197; Location: 801 N REAGAN ST; Grades: 04 – 05)
  • BROOKHAVEN YOUTH RANCH (Students: 57; Location: 5467 ROGERS HILL RD; Grades: 06 – 12)

Private primary/middle school in West:

  • ST MARYS SCHOOL (Students: 173; Location: PO BOX 277 507 W SPRUCE ST; Grades: PK – 8)

Libraries

Library in West:

  • WEST PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $23,383; Location: 209 W TOKIO RD; 29,863 books; 314 audio materials; 682 video materials; 5 serial subscriptions)