Marlin is a city in Central Texas and the county seat of Falls County, situated along the Brazos River about thirty minutes southeast of Waco. Its population is roughly 5,600. Marlin's identity is inseparable from its mineral waters: the city has long been known as the "Hot Mineral City of Texas," a title earned in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when its springs made it a destination for health seekers from across the state and beyond. The story began in 1891, when hot mineral springs were discovered in the area. The mineral-rich water, believed to have healing properties, turned Marlin into a major health resort, with grand bathhouses such as the Bethesda and Majestic, the Imperial Hotel, and a hospital built around the waters. The city's mild climate and rail connections to Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio drew visitors in large numbers, and even Conrad Hilton operated a hotel here in his early career. The introduction of modern medicine eventually diminished the spa trade, and the grand bathhouses are gone, but the artesian wells still flow, producing tens of thousands of gallons of 147-degree water each day. Today Marlin is a quieter county-seat community. The Falls County Historical Museum and the Palace Theatre anchor local culture, and the Marlin Independent School District serves about 880 students. Residents value the historic architecture, the Brazos River setting, and the city's affordable, unhurried pace, with Waco, College Station, Dallas, and Austin all within reach. For those drawn to a historic Central Texas town with a distinctive past, Marlin offers character and value in equal measure.