Townhouses in Riesel, TX | Gregg's Team Real Estate Group

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Riesel is a city in McLennan County, Texas, situated in the Blackland Prairie farming country of Central Texas, about 14 miles southeast of Waco. It is part of the Waco metropolitan statistical area, and its 2020 population was 1,062, a modest increase from 1,007 a decade earlier. The city sits at the intersection of State Highway 6 and Farm Road 1860, along the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which has shaped its layout and history. The community's origins are agricultural and railroad-centered. During the region's railroad expansion, the Houston and Texas Central Railway built a section-house known as Roddy on the site around 1880, and by the 1890s Riesel had grown up around a cotton gin beside the tracks—a pattern common to small Texas towns of the era. Farming and ranching have remained the backbone of the local economy ever since, with cotton, grain, and livestock defining the surrounding landscape. Riesel functions today as a compact, low-density community where most residents own their homes. The Riesel Independent School District, based in the city, operates two campuses and serves roughly 650 students, with a small portion of its territory extending into neighboring Falls County, making the schools a focal point of local life. The town's streets are quiet and residential, with the school, churches, and a small commercial core along State Highway 6 providing the community's anchors. The city's appeal is straightforward: a quiet, affordable small town with strong agricultural character and quick access to Waco's employment, shopping, education, and medical facilities via State Highway 6. Its position on the highway and rail corridor gives residents an easy connection to the wider metro while the surrounding prairie keeps the setting distinctly rural. Riesel suits those who want space, a close-knit community, and a slower pace within a short drive of a regional center.

Population 1,062

County McLennan

Active Listings 51

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Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Riesel, Texas in?

Riesel is located in McLennan County, Texas, in the central part of the state. It sits about 14 miles southeast of Waco and is part of the Waco metropolitan statistical area.

What is the population of Riesel, Texas?

Riesel's population was 1,062 at the 2020 census, up slightly from 1,007 in 2010. It is a small city with a suburban-rural mix, and most of its residents own their homes rather than rent.

What is the history of Riesel, Texas?

Riesel began in the 1890s as a cotton gin beside a railroad track, after the Houston and Texas Central Railway built a section-house called Roddy on the site around 1880. Farming and ranching have remained central to the local economy.

What school district serves Riesel?

Riesel is served by the Riesel Independent School District, a small rural district based in the city. The district operates two campuses and enrolls roughly 650 students, with a portion of its territory extending into neighboring Falls County.

How do you get to Riesel, Texas?

Riesel sits at the intersection of State Highway 6 and Farm Road 1860, on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. State Highway 6 connects the city to Waco, about 14 miles northwest, and continues south toward Marlin.

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