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Dean Highland, Waco

Dean Highland is a City of Waco recognized neighborhood located in northwest Waco, spanning ZIP codes 76707 and 76708. The neighborhood is named for Dr. Jesse Judge Dean, whose family's land donation in 1916 directly enabled the founding of what became Hillcrest Baptist Hospital — one of the most consequential institutions in Waco's 20th-century history. The neighborhood is described by its own association as "a quiet, distinguished neighborhood in Waco."

Dean Highland has an active neighborhood association with its own website (deanhighlandwaco.org) and a long civic history rooted in the original Blue Bonnet trolley network, the hospital that defined it, and the church that anchored it.

Overview

  • Population: Approximately 2,180
  • Community Feel: A quiet, established residential neighborhood with a strong sense of history and an active civic identity. Mix of long-time homeowners and newer residents. The neighborhood has been working to obtain green space from the former Hillcrest Hospital site, which was demolished in 2020.
  • Resident Profile: Diverse; majority Hispanic (Mexican ancestry 51.4%). Mix of working and lower-middle-class families; majority owner-occupied.

Key Characteristics

  • Location: Northwest Waco; ZIP codes 76707 and 76708. Home to the Waco Police Department (Pine Avenue).
  • ZIP Codes: 76707, 76708
  • Economy: Below-average income neighborhood; income lower than 74.9% of U.S. neighborhoods. 11.8% of children below the federal poverty line. See the Dean Highland Details file for more.
  • Housing: Predominantly ranch-style homes from the 1940s and 1950s, with some pre-1940 structures. 59.2% owner-occupied. Relatively low vacancy rate compared to other Waco neighborhoods.
  • Education: Served by Waco Independent School District (WISD). Dean Highland Elementary — the neighborhood's namesake school — received F ratings in 2023, 2024, and 2025 (3 consecutive Fs). Waco ISD approved a charter performance contract with Third Future Schools in early 2026 to manage the campus and avoid potential TEA takeover. For details, see the Dean Highland Schools file.

History

Dean Highland's story is inseparable from that of one family and one institution.

Dr. Jesse Judge Dean was a medical doctor who became a prominent Waco real estate figure. In 1916, he and his wife Jessie (née Trice) Dean donated land at 30th and Herring Avenue to the Waco Baptist Association for the purpose of building a hospital. By April 1920, the family had donated 7.75 acres and sold an additional 3.41 acres — presumably at a discount — to the Baptists. The Central Texas Baptist Sanitarium (the original name of Hillcrest Baptist Hospital) opened on May 25, 1920; its first patient arrived before the official opening date.

The neighborhood itself was formerly known as MacArthur Hill, part of Camp MacArthur — a massive World War I military installation that covered much of what is now northwest Waco. After the war, the land was converted to residential use and the community grew around the hospital and its associated institutions.

Highland Baptist Church was founded in 1923 by pastor Robert Edwin (R.E.) Smith, described as an antiracist leader whose mission shaped the neighborhood's character and increased its civic influence across Waco.

The Blue Bonnet trolley line ran directly through Dean Highland, with a terminal stop that still stands in the neighborhood today — a tangible reminder of early 20th-century Waco's transit infrastructure.

Hillcrest Baptist Hospital operated at its original Herring Avenue location until 2009, when a new facility opened on I-35. The old campus was demolished in 2020. As of March 2026, Dean Highland residents are actively advocating for the long-vacant site to become a neighborhood park, with the City of Waco in discussions to potentially acquire the property from Baylor Scott & White Health.

Detailed Information

For more detailed information on the community, see the Dean Highland Details file.

Amenities and Lifestyle

  • Blue Bonnet Trolley Terminal: The original terminal building from the historic Blue Bonnet trolley line still stands in the neighborhood.
  • Hillcrest Hospital Site: The former 1920 hospital site (demolished 2020) is a focal point of current neighborhood advocacy for green space and park development.
  • Dean Highland Elementary: The neighborhood's own elementary school, named for the community.
  • Waco Police Department: The WPD headquarters is located on Pine Avenue within or adjacent to the neighborhood.

Food and Dining

For a detailed list of dining options near Dean Highland, see the Dean Highland Restaurants file.

Religious Community

For a detailed list of churches in Dean Highland, see the Dean Highland Churches file.

Sources