Waco is a city located in the state of Texas, United States. It serves as the county seat of McLennan County and is situated along the Brazos River and Interstate 35, positioned approximately halfway between the cities of Dallas and Austin.
As of the 2025 U.S. census estimate, Waco has a population of 147,788, ranking it as the 24th-most populous city in Texas. The broader Waco metropolitan area encompasses McLennan, Falls, and Bosque counties. While the metropolitan area had a population of 295,782 in 2020, the 2025 census estimate for the region reached 308,807 residents.