Riesel, Texas is located at the intersection of Farm Road 1860 and State Highway 6, fourteen miles southeast of Waco in southeastern McLennan County. The Houston and Texas Central Railway built a sectionhouse called Roddy on the site about 1880. In 1890, W.H. Riesel built a cotton gin and the town’s name was officially changed to Riesel
in 1891. The Riesel Independent School District was established in 1895. Around 1925, Riesel instituted the first school bus route pick up in McLennan County.*

Riesel is known as “The Fair City” because of the famous Riesel Fair which has been held every year in July since 1949. It is sponsored by the Riesel Lions Club with most of the proceeds going back to the community.

The growing Riesel community, with a population of 973 residents, welcomes new residents and businesses.