Abstracts

A historical study of Bell's Hill, an older section of Southwest Waco, Texas, 1885-1955, reveals a complex community characterized by social/cultural, ethnic/racial, and economic diversity. From its early history when artesian wells attracted investors, Bell's Hill became a working-class community where industries located adjacent to the nearby railroad, attracted a growing, diverse population. Once there, residents built strong social institutions and developed neighborhoods that eventually included a sense of community. Beyond the perceived image of the working-class stereotype, there existed a multifaceted community comprised of well-defined neighborhoods. By studying this community, new insight emerges about to the impact of working-class communities, such as Bell's Hill, on the overall growth of the larger, urban places of Waco, Texas, and the industrial New South during the period under study.