The area farmers cultivated the land and grew cotton, wheat, and grain sorghum, and raised cattle.

In 1860, Bold Springs had a population of about 300 and provided services such as a blacksmith, churches, and a post office.

The path of the railroad passed through land owned by Thomas West, who had moved to the area in 1859.

Czech immigrants came to the area, purchasing the rich lands to farm and start a fresh life in the new world.

[8] The temporary city Crush, Texas, located just three miles (5 km) south of West, was the location of The Crash at Crush,[10] a head-on collision between two locomotives that was staged on September 15, 1896, as a publicity stunt for the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad.

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.

[11] The turn of the century brought electricity, running water, and natural gas.

Many of the descendants of the original settlers continue to farm the lands and run the businesses today.

The lingering possibilities include arson, an electrical glitch or a golf cart that overheated.

The causes of the explosion and recommendations for prevention can be found in www.CSB.gov under West Fertilizer Company (Completed Investigations).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.0 sq mi (10 km2), all land.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

[18] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,531 people, 1,015 households, and 635 families residing in the city.