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South Waco, Texas

South Waco (locally called the "South Side") is a historically Hispanic neighborhood in the southern portion of Waco, primarily in ZIP code 76706. Within the City of Waco's official Neighborhood Engagement framework, the core residential area is formally recognized as the Cesar Chavez neighborhood (formerly the University Neighborhood), served by the Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Association (president: Armando Arvizu, 2024–2025).

South Waco's Hispanic community has deep roots stretching back to the late 19th century, anchored by two now-demolished neighborhoods — Sandtown and Calle Dos — that were razed by urban renewal in the late 1950s, displacing generations of families. Today the neighborhood remains a working-class, family-oriented community whose identity is woven together by Catholic parishes, multi-generational family restaurants along La Salle Avenue, the South Waco Community Center, and the Waco Hispanic Museum.

Overview

  • ZIP Code: 76706
  • Population: ~41,627 (2024 estimate); growing at ~1.2% annually
  • Median Age: 24.2 years (notably young; Baylor University's presence in the broader ZIP inflates the figure)
  • Community Feel: Working-class, family-oriented, and predominantly Hispanic in the residential core. Strong multi-generational identity tied to Mexican-American culture, Catholic faith, and La Salle Avenue commerce.
  • Resident Profile: Predominantly Hispanic/Latino with multi-generational family ties; significant Black and White populations in the broader ZIP. Median household income ~$41,656.

Key Characteristics

  • Location: Southern Waco, generally south of Waco Drive (US-84); the residential core lies along and around La Salle Avenue, Speight Avenue, and S. 15th Street.
  • Neighborhood Association: Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Association; contact via City of Waco Neighborhood Engagement: neighborhoods@wacotx.gov, (254) 750-5774.
  • Commercial Corridor: La Salle Avenue — the historic pre-Interstate 35 Dallas-to-Austin route through Waco — is the neighborhood's commercial spine, lined with taquerias, panaderías, tiendas, and longtime family restaurants.
  • Education: Served by Waco Independent School District (WISD). For details, see the South Waco Schools file.

History

Sandtown and Calle Dos

The Hispanic presence in South Waco dates to approximately 1900. Sandtown occupied the area between Third Street and the Brazos River, between Mary Street and present-day Baylor Law School. At its 1950s peak, roughly 50 working-class Mexican-American families called it home — typically the first U.S. address for families arriving from Mexico.

Calle Dos emerged in the early 20th century as a separate but adjacent hub, bounded roughly by Fourth Street, Washington Avenue, Waco Drive, and the Brazos River. Its cultural centerpiece was La Pila ("the basin") — a community fountain fed by an artesian well that provided water for drinking, cooking, and bathing, and served as a daily gathering place and labor-hire site for day workers.

In 1958, the City of Waco voted to participate in the federal Urban Renewal program. Both Sandtown and Calle Dos were demolished, displacing generations of Hispanic families. La Pila was buried and destroyed. The site was later unearthed briefly by archaeologists and reburied; it remains the subject of ongoing preservation advocacy.

Key Historical Milestones

  • 1900s — Hispanic families begin settling Sandtown and Calle Dos
  • 1920 — Antonio P. Castillo Sr. opens the Old Texas Café downtown, beginning a 100+ year Mexican-American restaurant dynasty (later La Fiesta, Casa de Castillo)
  • 1924 — Spanish Franciscan missionaries establish St. Francis on the Brazos — the first Catholic parish specifically to serve Waco's Hispanic community
  • 1931 — St. Francis stone church completed; modeled architecturally on Mission San José in San Antonio; the parish offers English-language and citizenship classes
  • 1957 — Franciscans establish Sacred Heart Catholic Church (2621 Bagby Ave) specifically to serve Spanish-speaking south side residents
  • 1958 — Urban renewal demolishes Sandtown and Calle Dos; La Pila is buried
  • 1963 — Sam Castillo Sr. opens La Fiesta restaurant at 18th and Washington Ave
  • 1981 — Trujillo's Comedor y Cantina opens on La Salle Ave (still operating 44+ years later)
  • 2016 — The Waco Hispanic Museum opens in the South Waco Community Center, championed by city councilwoman Alice Rodriguez
  • September 2025 — A major Hispanic heritage mural is unveiled on the South Waco Community Center exterior; painted by muralist Jesus Rivera over eight months, it depicts indigenous/Hispanic history, the former Calle Dos neighborhood, and local leaders

Key Landmarks and Institutions

  • South Waco Community Center & Park — 2815 Speight Ave; gym, fitness room, meeting rooms; Mon–Thu 9am–9pm, Fri 9am–6pm, Sat 9am–3pm; adjacent park with pavilion, playgrounds, ballfield, and walking trail
  • Waco Hispanic Museum — Located in the South Waco Community Center; free admission; photographs, artifacts, and displays from Sandtown, Calle Dos, and La Pila; managed by La Mutualista president Louis Garcia
  • St. Francis on the Brazos — 301 Jefferson Ave; 1924 parish; architectural landmark
  • Sacred Heart Catholic Church — 2621 Bagby Ave; 1957 parish; bilingual Masses
  • La Salle Avenue — Historic commercial corridor; pre-Interstate 35 route; taquerias, panaderías, and family businesses
  • La Pila historical site — The buried artesian fountain of Calle Dos; subject of ongoing preservation advocacy

Amenities and Lifestyle

  • Dining: South Waco has some of Waco's most beloved family-owned Mexican restaurants and taquerias, many decades old. See the South Waco Restaurants file.
  • Community Life: Heavily centered on parishes, the South Waco Community Center, and neighborhood organizations including Grassroots Community Development and Prosper Waco.
  • Floyd Casey Village (adjacent): The redevelopment of the former Floyd Casey Stadium site on the neighborhood's northern edge is bringing 259 single-family homes, 3 multifamily sites, and a $22M park — with streets named after local Hispanic figures at community request.

Detailed Information

For more detailed information on crime rates, demographics, and housing, see the South Waco Details file.

Food and Dining

For a detailed list of dining options in South Waco, see the South Waco Restaurants file.

Religious Community

For a detailed list of churches in South Waco, see the South Waco Churches file.

Schools

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

Sources