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.

Railroad’s Impact on Waxahachie

The arrival of the railroad at Waxahachie in 1879 affected virtually all aspects of life in the community. Rail service first reached Ellis County in 1871 when the Houston and Texas Central built a line in the eastern part of the county. The railroad's path bypassed Waxahachie, however, running about 15 miles to the east and resulting in the establishment of the town of Ennis. Astute business leaders and other citizens of Waxahachie, quick to realize the vast potential for economic development and prosperity that the railroad represented for the community, organized the Waxahachie Tap Railroad to bring rail service directly to the city. Financial difficulties and mismanagement plagued its construction, yet the tap line was finally completed in September 1879, its path running just north of the original town site. The Houston and Texas Central eventually took control of the operation. The Fort Worth and New Orleans Railroad, later absorbed into the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad system, reached Waxahachie in 1886, and its tracks were built on the south side of town. In 1907 the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railroad established a line that connected Waxahachie and Corsicana to the east. There are three remaining depots south of the downtown.

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.

Chautauqua Movement

The town's important social and religious institutions also joined in the construction boom that hit Waxahachie in the early twentieth century. One of the most significant and certainly the most unique was the Chautauqua Auditorium). Erected in 1902, it served as the meeting place for religious, educational, and musical events as part of the Chautauqua movement, which was popular in the United States during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This may be the only surviving Chautauqua building in the state.

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.