McLennan County is situated in the Edwards Plateau region of central Texas, and is home to the city of Waco. This city is renowned for its many attractions, including five historic houses, seven recreational venues, and nine arts organizations that host theater and musical performances, as well as art exhibitions. Tourists can also visit the Texas Rangers Museum and Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Dr. Pepper Museum.
The area was sparsely populated by Catholics until after the Civil War, when German and Czech immigrants moved to McLennan County. In 1870, a Catholic church was built in Waco. After World War II, the population of Waco and McLennan County experienced a surge in growth, and the transition to a peacetime economy was successful. In 1842, the Republic of Texas attempted to create local government in the region by forming a judicial district known as Waco County. However, this was declared unconstitutional by the Texas Supreme Court later that same year. The Ku Klux Klan had a strong presence in McLennan County during 1923, with a parade of 2,000 Klan members taking place in Waco.
But soon after this event, the organization began to lose its popularity due to its violent nature. In 1872, the Waco and Northwestern Railroads opened tracks between Bremond and Ross. This allowed McLennan County to access markets through Houston and Central Texas.
