Crawford is a small town in western McLennan County, Texas, about seventeen miles west of Waco, within the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its history reflects the agricultural settlement of Central Texas and, more recently, a shift toward residential growth as commuters chose to live in the countryside and work in Waco, a pattern that became pronounced in the 1980s. The 2020 census recorded a population of about 890. The town gained national prominence as the community near Prairie Chapel Ranch, the roughly 1,583-acre property acquired by George W. Bush in 1999. During Bush's presidency the ranch, about seven miles northwest of Crawford, became informally known as the "Western White House" and briefly placed the small town at the center of national attention. Today Crawford has largely returned to its quieter rhythms, though the association remains a point of local identity. Crawford's daily life is anchored by the Crawford Independent School District, a small, well-regarded rural district serving the town and surrounding area, and by the town's churches and small commercial core. The surrounding landscape of rolling pasture, farmland, and cedar-dotted hills defines the area's character and offers the open space that draws many residents. The town's location makes it a practical base for Waco, which provides shopping, healthcare, higher education through Baylor University and McLennan Community College, and recreation at Lake Waco and Cameron Park. For homebuyers, Crawford offers a blend of small-town living, rural acreage, strong schools, and easy access to a mid-sized Central Texas city — appealing to families, commuters, and those seeking a quieter alternative to life in Waco itself.