Central Texas Aerospace Town
Welcome to McGregor, a central Texas city straddling McLennan and Coryell counties that pairs prairie-town roots with a high-profile aerospace industry.
McGregor is a small city straddling McLennan and Coryell counties in central Texas, just southwest of Waco. Incorporated in 1882, it developed as a prairie farm town along the region's cotton and agricultural economy, and its historic downtown still reflects that heritage. For most of its history McGregor was a quiet Central Texas community defined by farming, railroads, and local commerce, and that small-town character remains visible in its streetscapes and institutions. With a population of roughly 5,300, McGregor has the feel of a close-knit Texas town, yet its economy carries an unusually high-tech signature: the SpaceX rocket engine development and testing facility just outside town is a major employer that has brought engineers, technicians, and renewed investment to the community. Extensive rocket engine testing is conducted at the site, and recovered Dragon spacecraft are shipped to McGregor for de-fueling, cleanup, and refurbishment—work that has placed the town at the center of the nation's commercial space program. The city balances this aerospace presence with everyday small-town life. Residents shop at local grocers, use the McGinley Memorial Public Library, and gather at the city's parks. Most residents own their homes, and the housing stock is predominantly traditional single-family, giving neighborhoods a stable, established character. Community life still runs on school events, local businesses, and the rhythms of a Texas prairie town. McGregor's location in the Waco metropolitan area means the cultural and commercial amenities of a mid-sized Texas city—universities, healthcare, shopping, and entertainment—are only a short drive away, while the town itself retains a quieter, more affordable pace. It appeals to families, aerospace and defense workers, and people who want rural-adjacent living with genuine community character and convenient access to Waco and the broader central Texas region.
McGregor straddles McLennan County and Coryell County in central Texas. Most of the city and its school district are associated with McLennan County, placing McGregor within the Waco metropolitan area.
McGregor is best known as the site of a SpaceX rocket engine development and testing facility, which conducts extensive engine testing just outside the city and serves as a major local employer, giving the town a notable aerospace presence.
McGregor Independent School District serves the city, operating campuses in town for students from elementary through high school. The district is a community school system closely tied to the city, and school events and athletics form a central part of local life.
McGregor lies just southwest of Waco in central Texas and is part of the Waco metropolitan area, giving residents a short commute to the city's jobs, shopping, healthcare, and entertainment while retaining a quieter small-town atmosphere.
City Guide
McGregor's housing market is rooted in traditional single-family homes, with a strong base of owner-occupied residences and a stable, established feel. Neighborhoods tend to be modest and family-oriented, and the town's anchors—such as Legacy Park and Bewley Park, local grocers, and McGregor ISD campuses—reinforce a sense of community rather than a transient, commuter-oriented atmosphere. The presence of the SpaceX facility has brought a segment of technical and professional workers to the area, supporting demand for both established homes and newer construction. Buyers generally find a small-town residential character at a more approachable scale than in nearby Waco.
McGregor offers a friendly, small-town lifestyle anchored by community institutions. The McGinley Memorial Public Library, city parks, and school events provide regular gathering points, and the historic downtown gives the city a tangible sense of place. The aerospace industry adds an unusual dimension: alongside longtime residents and farm families, the town is home to engineers and technicians connected to SpaceX's testing operations, creating a blend of prairie-town tradition and high-tech employment. For dining, entertainment, and larger events, residents make the short trip into Waco, keeping McGregor's own pace calm and unhurried.
McGregor is served by McGregor Independent School District, a community district with campuses in town that educate students from early grades through high school. The district is closely tied to the city, with school events and athletics forming a central part of community life. Families seeking additional options can look to private schools and other districts in the Waco area, as well as higher-education institutions in Waco and central Texas for post-secondary opportunities.
McGregor sits southwest of Waco within the Waco metropolitan area, giving residents a short commute to the region's principal employment, healthcare, and retail centers. The city's position in McLennan County places it within convenient reach of the Interstate 35 corridor and Waco's transportation network, while its own streets and highways connect it to neighboring towns in Coryell and McLennan counties. This combination of small-town roads and quick access to a mid-sized city is a defining part of McGregor's appeal.
McGregor operates several public parks where residents picnic, play, and gather for community events, with Legacy Park and Bewley Park among the city's outdoor anchors. Nearby Mother Neff State Park, one of Texas's early state parks, offers camping and hiking along the Leon River, and the Blue Hills Safari Ranch provides family-oriented animal encounters a short drive away. Lake Waco and the parks and trails of the city of Waco expand recreational options further, while the rolling central Texas countryside around McGregor lends itself to country drives and outdoor pursuits.
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