The modern suburban city of Robinson traces its beginnings to an 1850’s era frontier settlement along Flat Creek about seven miles from Waco Village. The settlement then known as Robinsonville grew up around brothers John and Levi Robinson’s homesteads. The original 170 acre townsite plat was recorded at the McLennan County Courthouse in 1873.

Three-fourths of a century passed before the City of Robinson was incorporated in 1955 under the General Laws of Texas. At that time, the first City Council was elected and the first city services provided. An aggressive annexation policy during the latter part of the 20th century expanded Robinson’s land mass to almost 45 square miles. The formerly privately-owned water system was acquired by the city and sanitary sewerage service was begun. To enhance the future water supply for the growing city, Robinson acquired rights to draw water from the Brazos River and built one of the first municipal reverse osmosis treatment plants in Texas to supplement its deep artesian water well supply.

In 1998 a Charter Commission was appointed to write a proposed City Charter. Under Texas law, communities with greater than 5,000 population may operate under Home Rule. Most, but not all, Home Rule cities have some variation of a Council-Manager form of government where an elected City Council establishes the policies and employs a professional City Manager to carry out the day-to-day activities. Robinson’s Charter, approved by the voters in 1999, did set up a Council-Manager form of government. One additional seat was added to the Council by the Charter, setting up a seven-member body elected at-large. The Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor for a one-year term.

Robinson’s City Council during the last decade has been aggressively addressing the infrastructure issues that had long languished . Early in the 2000’s, an addition was made to the City Hall, effectively doubling the office and meeting space for the growing city. A long 18” water main was built to connect the water treatment plant on the east side of the city to new elevated storage tanks on the higher elevations near Interstate 35. The capacity of the water treatment plant has been significantly increased and raw water storage improved. Sanitary sewer service was extended to the interstate frontage, allowing commercial activity to flourish. A multi-million dollar street improvement program is on-going, replacing miles of deteriorated roadway with new asphalt paving. Portions of Old Robinson Road, Andrews, Lyndale and Karnes are being replaced under the current contract.

Hundreds of new homes have been built in the many new subdivisions. The city’s first gated community is under construction. Robinson’s outstanding 3-A school district is highly regarded and is widely perceived as the engine driving much of the residential growth. The latest population estimates from the Texas State Data Center place Robinson at 10,570, an increase of over thirty-five percent over the decennial count in 2000 of 7,845. With that estimate, Robinson is the fastest growing community in McLennan County.

Robinson’s Economic Development Committee employs a professional consultant to advise on ways and means to both retain existing business and industry as well as attract new ones. With copious amounts of land still undeveloped, including choice sites along IH35 and Loop 340, there seem to be no limits to Robinson’s prospects. Those early pioneers who first set up housekeeping along the shaded banks of spring-fed Flat Creek over 150 years ago would no doubt be amazed at the changes!