A welcoming atmosphere and wide-open spaces in Mexia
Mexia is a rural city with a secluded countryside feel roughly 40 miles east of Waco, among the plains of Limestone County. Mexia’s economy boomed in the early 1900s with the growth of the area’s oil and gas industries. Today, manufacturing and agriculture are among the area’s mainstay industries, with hundreds of acres of open fields and farmland surrounding the city. “Mexia is a small town that’s very friendly and welcoming,” says Mitzi Eves a Mexia resident and broker/owner with Heritage Real Estate Group by Coldwell Banker Realty. “It’s a diverse community with a mix of ages and demographics. We’re right in the heart of Texas and it's an easy drive to Waco, Temple and Dallas.”
A diverse housing scene and anticipating future development
Mexia has a diverse housing scene, from 1930s farmhouses and fixer-uppers on multi-acre lots to newly built houses and charming 1970s ranch-style homes. Near the center of town, most homes sit on quarter to half-acre lots, many with fenced-in back yards. On the community’s outskirts, it’s typical to find properties of 2 acres and more. Fixer-uppers range from $50,000 to $70,000, while move-in-ready builds can go for $100,000 to $600,000, with price tags increasing with interior upgrades and property size. “We’re expecting to see a lot of growth in the next year or so,” says Eves. “A new industrial park is in the works, with room for a lot of new businesses, and the town will need new subdivisions to accommodate the growing population.”
Dual enrollment courses and a football rivalry at Mexia High School
Pre-kindergarten through second grade students can attend A.B. McBay Elementary School, which earns an A-minus rating from Niche, before heading to the C-plus-rated R.Q. Sims Intermediate School. Mexia Junior High School also receives a C-plus. The B-rated Mexia High School has dozens of career and technical education courses with topics ranging from floral design to health science theory. The high school partners with Navarro College for its dual enrollment offerings. “There’s a lot of town spirit around our high school,” says Eves. “There’s been a long-standing rivalry between us and Groesbeck High School. That is the biggest football game each season, and there’s even a sign along the Navasota River, between the two towns, dedicated to who wins each year.”
An up-and-coming downtown district and long-standing local eateries
While Mexia is a small town, there are numerous chain restaurants and a Walmart Supercenter all within the community. “We also have a lot of long-standing mom-and-pop restaurants,” Eves says. Jim’s Krispy Fried Chicken is a community staple with window service and sit-down dining options for its savory fried chicken and catfish dinners. Joe Friday’s is a retro-inspired diner serving burgers, chicken fried steak and ice cream sundaes.
Colorful murals can be found on the buildings of downtown, including one dedicated to former resident and country music star Cindy Walker. “There’s a lot of work going on to revitalize downtown,” says Eves. “Older buildings are going through renovation and are ready for new businesses to come to Mexia. There’s a great community of people working to make improvements across the city and bring people to town. We host events surrounding the holidays with a lot of community spirit.” Additionally, every October, the Blackcat Boo Bash draws in thousands of people to the area, in Halloween costumes, for an annual trunk-or-treat event.
Athletic fields and waterside recreation in Mexia
Mexia City Park has a playground, picnic shelters and facilities for baseball, sand volleyball and basketball. Fort Parker State Park lies just south of town and is home to a 750-acre lake popular among paddlers and anglers. The park also features 7 miles of hiking trails and a campground. Nearby, Lake Mexia is another popular fishing spot for bass, crappie and channel catfish.
Highway access to Waco, Dallas and Houston
U.S. Route 84 and Texas Highway 14 intersect in Mexia, providing direct routes to nearby cities like Waco and Dallas. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is around 100 miles north. Interstate 45 can take drivers around 160 miles south to Houston.
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Written By
Jillian Pillow
