Page Contents for West, Texas

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

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Statistics & Facts

The Texas state capital is Austin.
The population of West is approximately 2807 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 1,159 (1990), 1090 (2010).
The amount of land area in West is 3.523 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from West to Washington DC is 1269 miles.
The distance to the Texas state capital is 110 miles. (as the crow flies)
West is positioned 31.80 degrees north of the equator and 97.09 degrees west of the prime meridian.

Location

near Waco, Texas, on I-35 north of San Antonio and Houston
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History & History Related Items

The community of West, Texas began during the 1850's. Anglo-American settlers opened a small farming area they called Bold Springs. Once the Civil War was over, others came into Bold Springs, including Czech and German immigrants. The immigrants especially were looking for good, rich farming land to live on. The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad was built in the 1880's. Thomas M. West owned the only safe in town and kept many of the valuables of local people in his safe. This could be called the beginnings of the West Bank and Trust. Mr. West began dealing with the railroad for lands and constructing the depot. Because of this fact, the town started to become known as West. Soon the name of Bold Springs was replaced by West even on official documents. West was incorporated in 1892, becoming the dominant town in this farming region. In 1913 a railway was built between Waco and Dallas. A good highway was also built linking San Antonio and Austin to Fort Worth and Dallas in 1915. These two events helped West continue to grow and develop. After World War I, the Czech population in West increased and became the dominant culture in the community. In 1922, natural gas was piped into the city. In 1926, the Chamber of Commerce of West, Texas was organized. During the depression of the 1930's and through World War II, West did not grow much. In recent years, there has been an emphasis on tourism in the area. The first Westfest celebration in 1976 helped to establish the tourist center for West. The continued Westfest and the annual Labor Day Weekend Festival continue to encourage business, especially those related to the Czech culture, such as bakeries and specialty shops. For more information about West, call: 1-800-WACOFUN
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The incorporation of West

1892

Attractions

Westfest
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