Waco is a central Texas city and the seat of McLennan County, set on the Brazos River along the Interstate 35 corridor roughly midway between Dallas and Austin. With roughly 150,000 residents inside the city and about 260,000 across the county, Waco functions as the region's economic, educational, and cultural center. Baylor University, a private Baptist research university, anchors the city's identity. Its campus sits along the Brazos River just south of downtown, and the university brings students, faculty, and visitors into the city's core year-round. Beyond higher education, Waco has built a wider visitor economy around the Magnolia Market at the Silos, the home-and-lifestyle destination created by Chip and Joanna Gaines that draws travelers from across the country. The Brazos River shapes the city's geography and recreation. Cameron Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the nation, runs along the river with miles of trails, and the Waco Riverwalk links the waterfront to downtown. The historic Waco Suspension Bridge and the Dr Pepper Museum are among the city's landmarks, and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame adds to the downtown cultural offerings. Waco's economy blends education, health care, and manufacturing with a growing tourism and hospitality sector. As the seat of McLennan County and a Central Texas crossroads, the city serves as a regional hub for commerce, distribution, and services, supported by its position on Interstate 35. Downtown's revitalization, anchored by the Silos and the riverfront, has brought renewed investment and activity to the city core. The city's neighborhoods range from historic, tree-lined districts close to downtown to suburban communities to the west. Waco offers the conveniences of a mid-sized Texas city without the congestion of the larger metros, and its central location between Dallas and Austin keeps both urban centers within a manageable drive for work, travel, and events.