WACO, Texas — The City of Waco is celebrating its 175th birthday on March 1.
"Founded in 1849, with and by our founders, Waco builds on its historic past. Over the years, it has become a bright and vibrant community. Emerging as a city defined by its people, onward to the future, Waco is...a city to believe in," the city shared a video about its birthday.
To help celebrate this historic town, below are some not so well-known facts about Waco, Texas' early history:
1. Early land sold between $2 to $5
Surveyor George B. Erath was the first to lay out the streets of Waco, then known as Waco Village. He divided the area into numbered lots that were sold for $5 each, according to the city. "Farming lots" were also sold for $2 to $3 each, the city said on the website, destinationwaco.org.
Waco Village would eventually drop Village from its name in 1856 when the City of Waco was incorporated.
2. Waco was almost named "Lamartine"
Property owners who purchased the numbered and farming lots in Waco Village originally chose to call the new town "Lamartine," but Erath convinced them to call it Waco Village instead, according to the Texas State Historical Association.
3. Early nicknames for Waco included "Athens of Texas"
During the late 19th Century, the City of Waco attracted a number of educational institutions, becoming the hub of education of Texas. To promote this, the city dubbed itself "Athens of Texas."
Waco University opened in 1861, but would later merge with Baylor University after the university moved to Waco from Independence, Texas in 1886. Paul Quinn College also moved to Waco from Austin in 1882.
4. Waco was the first Texas town, to legalize prostitution at the time
In 1879, there was a district known as "the Reservation," which extended from Washington Avenue to Jefferson Avenue, and from the Brazos River to 2nd Street, where prostitution was legal.
It remained legal until 1917 during World War I when the U.S. Army made it a condition for locating to Camp MacCarthur.
5. Folks ice skated on the Brazos River in 1899
February 1899 was one of the coldest winters in Texas history. Known as "the Great Blizzard of 1899" in the U.S., the lowest temperature in Texas was -30 degrees Fahrenheit, and was recorded in Tulia.
Over in Waco, temperatures dropped 10 degrees below zero. The city said it was so cold that people were able to ice skate on the Brazos River!
6. Bonus fun fact: Waco has been spelled in at least 32 different ways
According to the city on the site destinationwaco.org, the name Waco has been spelled at least 32 different ways, including Wacco, Wachos, Huaco, Hueco, Wacoah, Honechas, Houchas, Quchaco, Quaineo, Quintico, Wacha, Wacoes, Waecoe, Waeko, Wiko, Weko and Weeco.
Happy Birthday, Waco, Texas!
Other historical event in Waco: New historical marker placed in Waco for 1916 lynching of Jesse Washington
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