Editing West, Texas (section)

==History==
The first settlers of northern McLennan County arrived in the 1840s. They were farm and ranch families drawn from the east by the rich lands made available by the government sale of land to build schools in Texas. The area farmers cultivated the land and grew cotton, wheat, and grain sorghum, and raised cattle. The farming community centered around a freshwater spring that became known as Bold Springs. In 1860, Bold Springs had a population of about 300 and provided services such as a blacksmith, churches, and a post office.<ref name="West-History"/>

The [[Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad]] was laid between [[Hillsboro, Texas|Hillsboro]] and [[Waco, Texas|Waco]] in the fall of 1881. The path of the railroad passed through land owned by Thomas West, who had moved to the area in 1859. He farmed land that he had purchased and served as postmaster of Bold Springs. A train depot and station was built on the land he sold to the railroad company and the land running beside the tracks was divided into small sections and sold to people wanting to start businesses. The new depot and station included a post office and since Mr. West served as postmaster the settlement became known as West's Station, later West Station, and finally its current name West. Mr. West opened the first [[general store]] and became a successful businessman as he later owned a hotel, a furniture store, and a bank.<ref name="West-History"/>

The railroad brought prosperity to the area during the 1880s. More businesses were opened and more surrounding land was purchased. [[Czech American|Czech immigrants]] came to the area, purchasing the rich lands to farm and start a fresh life in the new world. They also opened businesses, sharing their European culture. By the 1890s, the Czech businesses flourished in West.<ref name="West-History"/> On June 11, 1892, West was officially organized into a town. It had become the center of commerce for the area. There were cotton gins, grocery stores, churches, schools, and doctors' offices.<ref name="West-History"/>

The temporary city [[Crush, Texas]], located just three miles (5&nbsp;km) south of West, was the location of The Crash at Crush,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=35909 |title=The Crash at Crush |access-date=2011-01-05 |work=hmdb.org}}</ref> a head-on collision between two locomotives that was staged on September 15, 1896, as a publicity stunt for the [[Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad]]. Over 30,000 spectators gathered at the crash site, named "crush" for MKT passenger agent [[William Crush]], who conceived the idea. About 4 p.m. the trains were sent speeding toward each other. Contrary to mechanics' predictions, the steam boilers exploded on impact, propelling pieces of metal into the crowd. Two people were killed and many others injured, including Jarvis Deane of Waco, who was photographing the event and lost an eye. Texas [[Historical marker|Historical Marker]] 5315, located on [[Interstate 35]] northbound [[frontage road]], between Mangrum and Wiggins Road, commemorates the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=5309005315&site_name=Crash+at+Crush,+The&class=5000 |title=Crash at Crush, The |year=1976 |access-date=2011-01-05 |work=Texas Historical Commission}}</ref>

The turn of the century brought electricity, running water, and natural gas. The population of West and surrounding area grew.  Many of the descendants of the original settlers continue to farm the lands and run the businesses today. [[Czech language|Czech]] is still spoken by some of the older residents.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.west-tx.com/history.asp |title=Historic Town of West |access-date=2012-03-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316085345/http://www.west-tx.com/history.asp |archive-date=2012-03-16 }}</ref>

===2013 explosion===
 <!--NOTE: This section is a short summary of the event. The details should be put in the main article at [[West Fertilizer Company explosion]] -->
{{main|West Fertilizer Company explosion}}
On April 17, 2013, a fire broke out at West Fertilizer Co., a fertilizer plant on the north side of town that stored [[ammonium nitrate]], a [[fertilizer]] that can be used as an explosive. The fire triggered two explosions milliseconds apart from one another. The massive blast killed 15 people,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2013/04/25/west-plant-explosion-victims-known-for-willingness-to-help-others/|title=West plant explosion victims known for willingness to help others}}</ref> including 12 first responders, and injured at least 200. It destroyed nearby schools, an apartment complex, and a nursing home and damaged hundreds of homes in the surrounding area.

The explosion, which measured as a 2.1 magnitude earthquake,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/west-explosion/headlines/20130418-day-1-massive-explosion-at-fertilizer-plant-shakes-west-leaving-dozens-injured-trapped.ece|title=Day 1: Massive explosion at fertilizer plant shakes West, leaving dozens injured, trapped}}</ref> garnered much media attention. President [[Barack Obama ]] and Texas Gov. [[Rick Perry]] attended the memorial for first responders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/west-explosion/headlines/20130425-obama-honors-fallen-firefighters-at-west-memorial-service.ece|title=Obama honors fallen firefighters at West memorial service}}</ref>

A month-long investigation ruled the cause of the explosion undetermined because multiple possible causes could not be ruled out. The lingering possibilities include arson, an electrical glitch or a golf cart that overheated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/west-explosion/headlines/20130516-monthlong-probe-of-west-blast-finds-3-potential-causes.ece|title=Monthlong probe of West blast finds 3 potential causes}}</ref>

In 2016 the [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives]] concluded that the fire that caused the explosion was set deliberately.<ref>The Guardian, May 11, 2016 [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/11/texas-fertilizer-plant-explosion-criminal-act explosion criminal act]</ref> However ATF never presented any evidence of arson. A comprehensive investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) publicized in 2016 did not find any evidence of foul play. The causes of the explosion and recommendations for prevention can be found in www.CSB.gov under West Fertilizer Company (Completed Investigations).