Since the town's founding in 1850, Waxahachie, county seat of Ellis County, has been an important agricultural, commercial, educational, and transportation center in the north-central Texas region. Located between Dallas and Waco it is thirty-five minutes to Dallas, forty-five minutes to Fort Worth geographically, and sixty minutes to Waco; but years away in terms of history. It provides visitors with the opportunity to "time travel" back to the Victorian Era. However, a tour of the town is not complete without a brief historic framework to allow visitors to see and feel the city—to sense how Waxahachie became what it is today.

Early-recorded history

Many different local Indian tribes roamed the land, but other than rich artifacts, they left no recorded history. Early written history shows that banking and agriculture played a role in its early growth. However, production, processing, and shipping of cotton formed the basis for the city's rapid growth during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Ellis County eventually became the nation's largest cotton-producing county. Because the crop played such a pivotal role in the community's development, numerous cotton-related industries (including one of the state's first textile mills—the Waxahachie Cotton Mills Company on Circle Street, were established throughout the town. Most of the warehouses, cotton yards, cottonseed compresses, and cotton gins were built near one of the three railroads that serviced the community. The vibrant local economy of the late 1800s and early 1900s contributed to a construction boom that resulted in the rapid development of the downtown and created large neighborhoods filled with vernacular and popular house types—many of which remain to this day.

As local cotton production declined during the 1930s, Waxahachie's most prosperous era came to an abrupt end. Growth since that time has been slow, thereby saving many of the town's late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century structures. Waxahachie's rich architectural legacy reveals much about local architectural tastes and preferences during the town's most prosperous era. Recognizing the significance of the impressive collection of turn-of-the-century structures, the citizens of Waxahachie have actively participated in the preservation and restoration movement. Five historic districts are already listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are numerous commercial buildings, churches and homes in the City with State Historical Markers.

Waxahachie’s Name

Local Indians named one of their favorite camping and hunting sites after the creeks which ran through the area. Literally translated, Waxahachie means, Buffalo Creek. 

Early settlers discovered the area after the Indians had moved on and also found that the land was favorable for settlement. Two creeks in the area provided good water sources, and the abundance of timber along these waterways provided an ample supply of building materials.

Located in Ellis County, Texas, the town was formed in 1850 as the County Seat. The town was dubbed Waxahachie, the name that local Indians had given the creek that ran through the south side of the new town.

The Ellis County Courthouse

The booming local economy during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries spurred an era of intense development and new construction in the entire community. In 1894-95 a new courthouse was built on the public square. Regionally acclaimed architect James Reily Gordon of San Antonio designed this imposing Romanesque Revival edifice, which is the centerpiece of the Ellis County Courthouse Historic District (listed in the National Register in 1975). Rising three stories in height and strategically sited on one of the city's highest points, the courthouse remains the town's most impressive physical and architectural landmark. It also represents Waxahachie's prominence as a major cotton-producing center at the turn of the century.

Downtown Waxahachie

Waxahachie's neighborhoods, like its well-preserved commercial center, experienced a construction boom during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Dwellings for all social and economic classes, including laborers, clerks, store owners, cotton brokers, bankers, and others, were built throughout the city. In fact, housing demands were so great that as existing neighborhoods were filled, new sections were opened for development. The West End and East End were popular areas for the town's more financially successful individuals. Large and impressive Victorian residences with ornate jigsaw detailing prevailed throughout these two areas (see the West End and the Oldham Avenue historic districts with this nomination for additional information) and symbolized the wealth and social status of their owners. Local streetcar service was initiated by 1889 and, extending to each end of the city, influenced the town's physical growth. More modest residences, such as L-plan, modified L-plan, and other vernacular house types, were built in the neighborhoods between the West and East ends.

Local lumber companies or contractors erected the vast majority of the structures built during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Despite the active construction business at that time, no architects resided or based their practice in the community. The lumber companies generally relied on plans and pattern books that were published by designers in larger cities. Many of these pattern book houses still exist.

Rich History of Black Owned Homes, Churches and Businesses

Many of these cotton workers were blacks, and most settled in the east part of town, especially along E. Main and Wyatt streets. This area developed into a separate and independent community within Waxahachie, as blacks established their own religious, commercial, and social institutions. The row of shotgun dwellings along the east side of the 300 block of Wyatt Street, which comprise a small historic district being nominated to the National Register, are excellent examples of well-preserved, low-cost, black housing of the early 1900s. These houses are close to the nationally and state recognized Joshua chapel.

Professional Baseball in Waxahachie

Waxahachie served as the training site for a number of professional baseball teams, from such cities as Detroit in 1917-18, Cincinnati in 1919, Chicago in 1920, and Kansas City in 1921. While staying in Waxahachie, team members resided in the Rogers Hotel.

Waxahachie Today

Today Waxahachie is experiencing renewed growth and prosperity. Its close proximity to one of the nation's fastest-growing metropolitan areas has attracted numerous commuters to the town. Even though many of its citizens work in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Waxahachie boasts a healthy economy with several large manufacturing concerns. Townspeople, led by Historic Waxahachie, Inc., a local preservation group, have long realized the unique and special character of the town's historic resources and have successfully restored many of the old homes and commercial buildings. The annual home tour, known as the Gingerbread Trail, has become an important local tradition and attracts visitors from all parts of the state. Like the city's historic neighborhoods, the downtown has been the scene of much restoration effort under the auspices of the Main Street Program. The town's impressive collection of historic structures has been "discovered" by many others, including filmmakers who have used the town as a backdrop for several major motion picture and television productions in recent years.

Waxahachie is a wonderful "time capsule" that can be enjoyed on day trip or a full weekend visit. There is much to do and see in this historic community.

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