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Kendrick, Waco, Texas

Kendrick is an established residential neighborhood in south-central Waco, officially recognized by the City of Waco Neighborhood Engagement Office. It is primarily assigned ZIP code 76711, with some fringe addresses appearing under 76710 and 76712. The neighborhood sits roughly 3–5 miles south of downtown Waco and the Baylor University campus, straddling the east side of I-35 along the Bagby Avenue and South New Road corridors.

Kendrick is one of Waco's most distinctly Hispanic neighborhoods, with deep working-class roots, mid-century housing stock, and a cluster of major public amenities — Kendrick Park, Cottonwood Creek Golf Course, and Waco ISD Stadium — that serve the broader South Waco community. The neighborhood gained significant attention in 2024–2025 with the $47.4 million rebuild of Kendrick Elementary School, the most visible capital investment in the area in decades.

Overview

  • Population: Approximately 8,922–9,659 residents (neighborhood-level estimates, various sources 2023–2025)
  • ZIP Code: Primarily 76711; portions also appear under 76710 and 76712
  • Community Feel: Working-class, lower-middle income, majority-Hispanic neighborhood with a strong sense of place and multi-generational families. The area has a distinctly South Waco character — unpretentious, affordable, and community-oriented.
  • Resident Profile: Majority of residents identify Mexican ancestry or ethnicity (55.6%). The neighborhood is bilingual, with approximately 44% of households speaking Spanish at home. Median age approximately 36 years.

Geographic Location and Boundaries

Kendrick occupies south-central Waco, generally bounded by:

  • West: Interstate 35 (the freeway forms the western edge; South New Road runs parallel just east of the on/off ramps)
  • North: Approximately the Loop 340 / Waco Drive corridor and the transition to other South Waco neighborhoods
  • East: The Central Texas Marketplace shopping corridor and the surrounding commercial/industrial areas
  • South: Extends toward the Robinson/Beverly Hills city limits area near Loop 340 South

Major internal streets include Bagby Avenue (the primary north-south commercial and residential spine), South New Road / 1st Street, Kendrick Lane, and the West Loop 340 (Highway 6) frontage.

The neighborhood is approximately 3–5 miles south of downtown Waco and Magnolia Market at the Silos, with direct I-35 access. Waco Regional Airport is approximately 6 miles south.

Key Characteristics

  • Demographics: Heavily Hispanic (Mexican-ancestry majority), working-class, bilingual community. See Kendrick Details for full demographic data.
  • Housing: Small-to-medium single-family homes, predominately built 1940–1969, with a mix of owner-occupied (51%) and renter-occupied (49%) units. Fixer-uppers start around $85,000–$150,000; typical ranch homes run $175,000–$300,000.
  • Economy: Below-average income neighborhood. Median household income approximately $46,735. Top employment sectors are manufacturing/labor (40%) and sales/service (26%).
  • Schools: Entirely within Waco Independent School District (WISD). The brand-new $47.4M Kendrick Elementary opened August 2025. See Kendrick Schools.
  • Safety: Considered one of Waco's safer neighborhoods; CrimeGrade.org rates the area B- to B for property crime, with approximately 11.19 property crimes per 1,000 residents annually — well below Waco's citywide average of 21.42 per 1,000.

Detailed Information

For more detailed information on demographics, housing, crime rates, income, and what the neighborhood is known for, see the Kendrick Details file.

Amenities and Lifestyle

  • Kendrick Park: The neighborhood's central public park at 4011 Bagby Ave. Features a splash pad (May–September), playground, outdoor fitness station, basketball courts, tennis court, grass sports field with backstop, covered picnic pavilion, and a paved walking trail. Open daily 6 AM–midnight. Managed by City of Waco Parks & Recreation. See City of Waco: Kendrick Park.
  • Cottonwood Creek Golf Course: A City of Waco-operated 18-hole, par-72 public golf course at 5201 Bagby Ave, Waco, TX 76711. Phone: (254) 745-6009. Features a driving range, bar-and-grill, outdoor pavilion, and fully stocked pro shop. One of the most accessible public courses in the Waco area.
  • Waco ISD Stadium / Sports Complex: Located at 1401 S. New Road, Waco, TX 76711. An 11,500-seat stadium (6,500 home side, 5,000 visitor side) with a HELLAS RealGrass Pro artificial turf field. Home venue for the University High School Trojans and shared with Waco High School. Approximately half a mile from I-35.
  • Location: Approximately 3–5 miles south of downtown Waco via I-35 or Bagby Avenue.

Food and Dining

For a detailed list of notable restaurants in and around Kendrick, see the Kendrick Restaurants file.

Religious Community

For a detailed list of churches serving Kendrick, see the Kendrick Churches file.

Schools

For a detailed list of schools serving Kendrick, see the Kendrick Schools file.

  • School District: Waco Independent School District (WISD) — district TEA rating: D (63/100) for 2025, 4th consecutive D (ratings released August 15, 2025).
  • Elementary: Kendrick Elementary School — new $47.4M campus at 1801 Kendrick Lane, opened August 2025 for the 2025–26 school year.
  • Middle: Cesar Chavez Middle School, 700 S. 15th St, Waco, TX 76706
  • High: University High School, 3201 S. New Rd, Waco, TX 76706 (TEA 2025: score 74, C; improving year-over-year)

Community Organizations

  • Kendrick Neighborhood Association: Meetings held at 6 PM on the first Monday of every even-numbered month at the South Waco Community Center, 2815 Speight Avenue. Contact the City of Waco Office of Neighborhood Engagement at neighborhoods@wacotx.gov or (254) 750-5774.
  • South Waco Strong Neighborhood Team: A Grassroots Community Development initiative working to revitalize neighborhood associations across South Waco, including Kendrick. Contact: Elise Jones, elise@grassrootswaco.org; Grassroots Community Development, (254) 235-7358, 1624 Colcord Ave, Waco, TX.
  • Grassroots Community Development: A Waco nonprofit providing free homeownership classes, counseling, leadership training, and affordable housing development in South Waco neighborhoods including Kendrick. See grassrootswaco.org.
  • Prosper Waco: Regional collective-impact organization tracking education, health, and economic outcomes for Waco residents; active in South Waco. See prosperwaco.org.

Notable Recent Developments (2024–2026)

  • New Kendrick Elementary School (opened August 2025): The most significant development in the neighborhood in decades. The original 1952 building was demolished in early 2024. Construction broke ground in May 2024; the two-story, 93,000 sq. ft. campus with a capacity of 750 students opened August 13, 2025 for the 2025–26 school year. Official dedication ceremony held September 15, 2025. Total cost: $47,440,657 — part of the $355M bond package approved by Waco voters in 2021.
  • Hyatt Place Waco – South (opened 2024): A new full-service hotel at 5400 Bagby Ave, Waco, TX 76711, adjacent to the neighborhood's northern commercial corridor. Adds lodging capacity to the South Waco/Bagby area.
  • Station at Cottonwood Creek Apartments: A 260-unit, 2-story apartment community at 4900 Bagby Ave, Waco, TX 76711 (built 2017, continued as a major rental option in the neighborhood). Offers 1–3 bedroom units with resort-style amenities including pool, fitness center, dog park, and fire pit.
  • South Waco Strong / Kendrick Neighborhood Association Revitalization: Ongoing since 2024; community organizers with ties to the neighborhood have been working to re-establish a formal and active Kendrick Neighborhood Association in partnership with Grassroots Community Development.

Sources