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Crawford is a small town in western McLennan County, Texas, about seventeen miles west of Waco, within the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its history reflects the agricultural settlement of Central Texas and, more recently, a shift toward residential growth as commuters chose to live in the countryside and work in Waco, a pattern that became pronounced in the 1980s. The 2020 census recorded a population of about 890. The town gained national prominence as the community near Prairie Chapel Ranch, the roughly 1,583-acre property acquired by George W. Bush in 1999. During Bush's presidency the ranch, about seven miles northwest of Crawford, became informally known as the "Western White House" and briefly placed the small town at the center of national attention. Today Crawford has largely returned to its quieter rhythms, though the association remains a point of local identity. Crawford's daily life is anchored by the Crawford Independent School District, a small, well-regarded rural district serving the town and surrounding area, and by the town's churches and small commercial core. The surrounding landscape of rolling pasture, farmland, and cedar-dotted hills defines the area's character and offers the open space that draws many residents. The town's location makes it a practical base for Waco, which provides shopping, healthcare, higher education through Baylor University and McLennan Community College, and recreation at Lake Waco and Cameron Park. For homebuyers, Crawford offers a blend of small-town living, rural acreage, strong schools, and easy access to a mid-sized Central Texas city — appealing to families, commuters, and those seeking a quieter alternative to life in Waco itself.

Population 887

County McLennan County

Active Listings 49

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Crawford located?

Crawford is located in western McLennan County in Central Texas, about seventeen miles west of Waco and roughly twenty-five miles from the city center along rural roads. The town is part of the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area.

What school district serves Crawford?

Crawford is served by the Crawford Independent School District, a small rural district with an elementary and a high school campus. The district serves the town and surrounding northwestern McLennan County, and its reputation for academic performance is a draw for families.

What is Crawford known for?

Crawford is best known for its proximity to Prairie Chapel Ranch, a roughly 1,583-acre property acquired by George W. Bush in 1999. Known informally as the Bush Ranch or the 'Western White House,' it lies about seven miles northwest of the town and brought national attention to Crawford.

How far is Crawford from Waco?

Crawford lies about seventeen miles west of Waco, giving residents access to the city's shopping, dining, healthcare, and employment. Waco's Cameron Park, Lake Waco, and Brazos River recreation are all within a short drive, while Crawford itself remains rural and quiet.

City Guide

About Crawford

Real Estate & Housing

Housing in Crawford is a mix of small-town homes and rural acreage properties. Within the town, modest single-family houses on quiet streets make up the core stock, while the surrounding countryside offers larger tracts of ten acres or more, with room for barns, shops, and additional structures. The area's appeal centers on space, privacy, and rural character rather than a single architectural style, and the housing inventory tends to be limited. Crawford's proximity to Waco and the reputation of Crawford ISD make its acreage and town properties sought after by families and commuters looking to leave the city while staying close to it.

Neighborhoods

Crawford is a small town without formal subdivisions, organized around its compact main-street core and the Crawford ISD campuses. Residential streets radiate from the town center with a mix of older homes and newer construction, while the larger rural lots and acreage properties begin just outside the city limits. The northwestern McLennan County countryside, including the area near Prairie Chapel Ranch, is characterized by open pasture, farmsteads, and scattered homesteads rather than dense development. This dispersed pattern gives Crawford its distinctly rural, spacious feel and keeps most of the community within a short drive of the town center.

Lifestyle in Crawford

Crawford offers a quiet, rural way of life with a small-town center and the city of Waco a short drive to the east. Residents value the open countryside, strong community identity, and the local school's role as a focal point of town life. The town's association with Prairie Chapel Ranch gave it national recognition, but daily life here is decidedly low-key and neighborly. Families and commuters drawn by the combination of acreage, a well-regarded small school district, and access to Waco's employment, healthcare, and culture define the community. It suits those seeking space and a slower Central Texas pace.

Schools & Education

Crawford is served by the Crawford Independent School District, a small rural district based in the town with an elementary and a high school campus serving the community and northwestern McLennan County. The district's compact size allows for close ties between the schools and town life, and its reputation for academic performance is a significant draw for families relocating to the area. For higher education, Baylor University and McLennan Community College in nearby Waco provide accessible college and workforce-training options within a short drive, giving Crawford residents a complete educational pathway close to home.

Getting Around

Crawford sits west of Waco along the rural road network of western McLennan County, with the town reached via local and state roads from the city. Commuters travel roughly seventeen miles to Waco for employment and services, and the Waco area's Interstate 35 corridor provides the principal route to Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin. There is no public transit in Crawford, so travel is by private vehicle. The town's position between Waco and the rural western reaches of the county makes it a convenient commuter base for those working in the Waco metropolitan area while living in the countryside.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Crawford leans on the outdoors and the nearby amenities of Waco. The town's rural setting offers open countryside for walking, cycling, and rural pastimes, while Lake Waco and the Brazos River, reached in under half an hour, provide boating, fishing, and waterside recreation. Cameron Park, one of the largest municipal parks in Texas, lies in Waco with trails, riverfront, and sports facilities. The rolling terrain around Crawford also supports hunting and other open-land pursuits common to western McLennan County. Residents combine the quiet of country life with easy access to Waco's parks, trails, and lake.

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