Travel Guide Waxahachie

On the road between Dallas and Austin, Waxahachie is a quiet town of 41,500 people founded in the second half of the 19th century. The origin of its name, which is difficult to pronounce, is a matter of debate: the original inhabitants of the area were Indians, so it may be related to the southward migration of the Indian peoples settled around Waxahatchee Creek in Alabama. Some sources state that the name means "cow" or "buffalo" in an unspecified Native American language. In the Alabama language, waakasi hachi means "calf's tail."Its historic red brick buildings, Victorian structures and gingerbread style homes give it a certain charm and authenticity that is worth a stop. The city is also the county seat of Ellis County, where you can admire the imposing and remarkable courthouse built in 1895 in a neo-roman style (romanesque revival), often cited as one of the oldest courthouses in Texas. With the arrival of the railroad after 1875, cotton production here grew rapidly and local entrepreneurs became wealthy. Every first weekend in June, the city organizes its "Gingerbread Trail Home Tour" which invites visitors to discover the rich historical homes of Waxahachie.