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Lacy Lakeview, Texas

Lacy Lakeview is a city in McLennan County, located north of Waco, and is part of the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's history is unique as it was formed from the merger of two communities, Lacy and Lakeview, in 1953, and later absorbed the city of Northcrest in 1998.

Overview

  • Population: Approximately 7,210 residents (2020 census); estimated ~7,275 as of 2025, growing at ~0.18% annually.
  • Community Feel: Lacy Lakeview has a dense suburban feel, with a majority of residents renting their homes. It is a community that has grown significantly from its small origins.

Key Characteristics

  • Demographics: The city is racially diverse. The population is approximately 45.7% White, 29.5% Black or African American, with a poverty rate of ~16.2%.
  • Economy: The median household income is approximately $51,301 (below the state average). The economy is anchored by TSTC and L3Harris Technologies, which is actively expanding its Waco workforce.
  • Housing: The median home value is around $154,300 - $160,600. About 56% of residents rent their homes.
  • Education: The city is primarily served by the Connally Independent School District, with a smaller portion served by the La Vega Independent School District.
  • Proximity to TSTC: Lacy Lakeview is located adjacent to Texas State Technical College (TSTC), a major two-year technical college that is a significant employer and educational institution in the region.

Economy and Major Employers

For a detailed overview of the economic landscape and major employers for Lacy Lakeview, see the Lacy Lakeview Employment file.

Detailed Information

For more detailed information on neighborhoods, crime rates, and demographics, see the Lacy Lakeview Details file.

Amenities and Lifestyle

For a detailed list of events in Lacy Lakeview, see the Lacy Lakeview Events file.

  • Transportation: The city is well-connected, with access to I-35 and other major highways. The Waco Regional Airport is about 10 minutes away.
  • Location: Its proximity to Waco provides residents with access to the larger city's amenities, including major hospitals and colleges like Baylor University, McLennan Community College, and Texas State Technical College.

Schools

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

Food and Dining

For a detailed list of notable restaurants in Lacy Lakeview, see the Lacy Lakeview Restaurants file.

Religious Community

For a detailed list of churches in Lacy Lakeview, see the Lacy Lakeview Churches file.

Major Development Story: Infrakey Data Center District (2026)

Updated May 2026 — The largest proposed economic development in Lacy Lakeview's history, and one of the most contested projects in the region.

Lacy Lakeview is at the center of one of the largest proposed economic development projects in Central Texas history.

The Project: On January 20, 2026, the City of Lacy Lakeview and Infrakey DC Parks formally announced the Lacy Lakeview Data District (L2D2) — a 520-acre, 925 MW (up to 1.2 GW) hyperscale and AI data center campus in McLennan County. The deal, signed at the PTC 2026 conference in Honolulu, represents a $10 billion proposed investment. Phase I targets 300 MW. The project would rank among the largest data center developments in Texas.

The Obstacle: The site sits near the community of Ross in an area Lacy Lakeview would need to annex — and water service to the site is controlled by the City of Waco. Relations between the two cities have frayed over the pace of Lacy Lakeview's approach. As of May 2026, Waco has not agreed to provide water service, and without it, the project cannot move forward. State Rep. Pat Curry (R-Waco) has noted: "Without the City of Waco agreeing to it, Lacy Lakeview can't do anything out there and neither can Infrakey."

Community Opposition: Neighbors circulated a petition with 3,000+ signatures against the project, citing concerns about noise, water consumption (millions of gallons per day), and air quality impacts on surrounding rural communities. Anti-data center candidate Amy Gage was the top vote-getter in the May 2, 2026 city council election.

Status (June 2026): The situation remains unresolved. Key June 2026 developments: - Amy Gage won the May 2 city council election as the top vote-getter running on an anti-data center platform. Pro-Infrakey incumbent Richard Lednicky lost his seat. - The community opposition petition has now reached 3,611+ signatures — more than half of Lacy Lakeview's 2020 census population. - As of late May 2026, Waco and Lacy Lakeview engineers only met for the first time on April 22; Waco officials say they still lack basic technical information about the project. - Waco City Manager Ryan Holt learned about the project from a news article in November 2025 — not from Lacy Lakeview. Waco Councilmember Darius Ewing has called the approach "almost oppositional." - The project still requires: (1) annexation of a 3-mile, 1,000-ft-wide corridor through private property; (2) miles of new sewer mains plus a sewer plant capable of treating 2 million gallons/day; (3) Waco's agreement to extend water and sewer service — which remains ungranted. - State Rep. Pat Curry (R-Waco) stated: "Without the City of Waco agreeing to it, Lacy Lakeview can't do anything out there and neither can Infrakey." Sources: The Waco Bridge/Texas Tribune (May 14, 2026), wacodatacenter.com.

Status (May 2026): The city council approved the Infrakey agreement despite opposition, but the project remains in regulatory and political limbo pending resolution of water access. The Texas Tribune and The Waco Bridge are tracking the story closely. Sources: Texas Tribune, Data Center Dynamics, The Waco Bridge.

Notable Facts

  • Ann Richards (1933–2006), the 45th Governor of Texas (1991–1995), was born in the community of Lakeview, which is now part of Lacy Lakeview. She is one of only two women to serve as Texas governor.
  • The city of Northcrest merged with Lacy Lakeview in 1998.

Sources