Field Guides
Belton, Texas
(Bell COUNTY)
Military pride meets small-town charm along the scenic Leon River.
Highlights
Befitting a county in the center of the state, Bell County has a little bit of everything Texan: a rural sensibility but an exploding population, a historic military connection, quaint villages and larger cities, horse farms and train stations, a great rodeo, lakes, rolling countryside, and traffic jams.
Getting to know Bell County is not easy and cannot be done in a weekend. To begin, visitors should spend time in Salado, one of Texas’ premier artist communities. In Temple, one can come to understand how important trains were to the development of the state. In Killeen, in and around Fort Hood, Texas’ role in the nation takes shape. In Belton, the old and new economies merge. There are lakes for recreation and relaxation. July 4th sees one of Texas’ best rodeos.
Along the way, there are great restaurants, hotels, shops, museums, and more. Let’s get started.
The Bell County Courthouse
There are lots of things left to say about Bell County highlights, but this is a field guide, not a novel. So Texas Ten begins the highlights by saying the courthouse is not one. Actually, there are two courthouses. The county does its judicial business today in a modern, efficient facility on the outskirts of town. The building lacks drama and is too hidden to remind people of what Lady Justice means. Bah Humbug.
The original structure now finds itself limited to administrative functions. The “real courthouse” was built in 1884 and partially restored in 1999. It does dominate downtown Belton like a courthouse is supposed to do. The Renaissance Revival style is among our favorites for a courthouse, and the coloring is beautiful. Overall, it is a great example of what a courthouse should look like. There is just no Atticus Finch, Perry Mason, or Matlock carrying a worn leather briefcase up the stairs ready to do justice. And that is a shame.
Things To See And Do
Belton is the county seat, and Temple is the largest city. But when people visit Bell County, they start in Salado.
The little village (population 2,403), exactly halfway between Austin and Waco on I-35, draws weekenders from everywhere for good reason. Its unique and preserved history, great art galleries, exceptional vintage and decor stores, tremendous restaurants, and picturesque setting spell g-e-t-a-w-a-y. So, job one is to roam around Salado.
Texas Ten discusses in more detail where to shop, eat, and sleep, using pages devoted to those pastimes, but take your time to visit the whole area. It is easy to get overwhelmed and miss something you want to see. Start at the Visitor Center to make sure you have an overview and know of any special events happening while you are there. Texas Ten’s favorites include the Salado Museum and College Park for a sense of the area’s history. Hint-they are proud Scots. We also love the beautiful St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, which is usually open. The Gault Archaeological Site reminds us of populations before us and tells the story of those who discovered and explains how the ancients lived. The village and surrounding area are home to 46 historically significant structures to observe. Plays and concerts take place at Tablerock, a natural amphitheater centered around a massive limestone rock near Salado Creek that forms the stage. There is a great outdoor sculpture garden with grounds maintained by Texas master gardeners.
And that is all just on the east side of I-35. Cross under the highway to the west, and you will soon be at Stillhouse Hollow Lake, between Salado and Belton. The lake is beautiful and fishable (several varieties of both bass and catfish). The entrance to the lake is just as good. Take a hike in and around Chalk Ridge Falls. You will follow the Lampasas River that feeds the lake and encounter plenty of scenic beauty, including the Chalk Ridge Falls. They are not Niagara, but they are ours, and it is a great swimming hole.
After you pry yourself from the lake and river, head over to Killeen and Fort Hood. Another visitor center is a good place to start. Actually, unless you hold a Department of Defense ID Card, it is the only place to start. Fort Hood is the largest and most populated U.S. military installation in the world. Killeen is an army town. Olive green is the color of the day, every day. To make sense of why, the best thing to do is to visit the new National Mounted Warrior Museum. Fort Hood exists to train our cavalry. That used to mean horses, but now it means tanks and the like. The museum explains the development, scope, and importance of that type of warfare. Getting a sense of the dedication and professionalism the soldiers at Fort Hood pour into this mission will be good for you.
From Fort Hood, it is back to Belton. Many counties have museums that tell the story of the surrounding area. Not many (maybe not any) do it better than the Bell County Museum. The permanent exhibits give a great sense of place, but the museum really shines through its always interesting temporary exhibits. It helps that an impressive structure houses the museum.
You may have noticed through other field guides that Texas Ten adores old theaters. The Beltonian (awesome name) in downtown Belton is charming and more importantly, in use to show movies. Take a couple of hours, forget about Amazon Prime, and take your best girl on a date the old-fashioned way.
Belton is also home to The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor or MHBU. The school has a common history with Baylor University in Waco. Both schools began under the same charter at Independence, Texas, in 1845, The original Baylor was divided into a men’s college and a women’s college. In the 1880’s the economy forced a move from Independence. The men went to Waco, and the women went to Belton. MHBU eventually was rechartered and renamed to honor Mary Hardin, a financial supporter of the school. Until 1971, MHBU was the oldest college for women west of the Mississippi. That year, the school went co-educational.
Like most universities, MHBU informs the culture and spirit of the town around it. The CRU, as the school’s athletic teams are known, is a national power in NCAA Division III athletics and is worth watching if you are in town when they are playing.
On to Temple. Most Texans know the Baylor, Scott and White hospital system, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit healthcare providers. Many Texans are aware that the system has its flagship hospital in Temple. But very few Texans know who “Scott” and ‘White” were. Texans Ten does. The mammoth system takes its name from two physicians at the Santa Fe Railroad Hospital in Temple.
Texas Ten learned this tidbit on their visit to the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum, another exceptionally well-done effort. We walked out of the museum with a deeper understanding of how vital railroads were and are to the state and nation we became. And trains are just plain cool. This second point comes to life at the Central Texas Model Train Club facility in the old Santa Fe Depot just next to the larger museum. Activate your inner child, or better yet, bring a real child with you. Speaking of museums, the Temple Children’s Museum provides educational opportunities for younger children if they are with you. If you are Czech, Czech descended, or Czech curious, you can check out the Czech Heritage Museum. Bonus for the last one–Puppet Theater.
In Temple, we enjoyed buildings occupying almost completely opposite ends of the architecture spectrum. First, the Ralph and Sunny Wilson home is a mid-modern time capsule. With its laminate minimalism and open spaces, it is pure Americana. Appointments are necessary to get inside.
Second, the Hindu Temple of Central Texas transports you across continents. Blinding white on the outside with ornate carvings and gold accents, the only thing it shared in common with the Wilson house was the need to remove one’s shoes. Both structures, however, speak to man’s capacity to create environments suitable to our purposes, whether that be relaxation, work, or worship. And both buildings stick to you the way great art does.
Miscellaneous is a great word intended to cover Texas Ten’s inability to fit everything into a neat category. Here are a few other things to consider. To beat the summer heat with your family, there are three waterpark options. For motorsports enthusiasts, check out Lone Star MX in Belton for a great motocross track and Little River Dragway for drag racing.
Food, Drinks, and Music (Eat Local!)
It probably makes sense to do this by town, focusing on Salado, Belton, Temple, and Killeen/Harker Heights, where most visitors will spend the bulk of their time.
Salado
Most of the action in Saldo is on or near Main Street. At the south end of Main Street, the road crosses Salado Creek. Let’s start with the “Creek Section”, which is a bit removed from the shopping. There is a trio of operations that will make you smile.
First, Alexander’s Craft Cocktails and Kitchen is a long-time favorite with the locals. Alexander’s has the relaxed, casual feel, interesting menu, and attention-to-detail cocktails you want in a forget-the-other-stuff weekend restaurant. Alexander’s is the upscale restaurant for Inn on the Creek, which also offers The Shed for quicker, casual fare.
Second, Chupacabra Kitchen is the food component of the Salado Lone Star Winery next door. It serves upgraded sandwiches and burgers and usually has live music on the weekends.
Third, Barrow Brewing Company has a taproom and large patio that features great craft beer and an ongoing party. Barrow uses food trucks to complement the beer, and Happy Pizza Co. happens to be the artisanal, wood-fired pizza truck next door. Beer, pizza, and good vibes make for great evenings.
Back across the creek, the Barton House of Salado offers the most sophisticated menu and classiest atmosphere in town serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. A separate speakeasy bar completes the hip vibe. For a Texas Cafe-style breakfast or lunch, McCain’s Bakery & Cafe is terrific. Cathy’s Boardwalk Cafe has served great lunches to locals and visitors for 30 years. Lucy’s Icehouse offers tasty lighter fare, cold beer, and live music on Fridays.
Greenfield Coffee, Cocktails, Barrels, Brew is, as the name suggests, many things. Great coffee and great drinks are the primary selling cards. Light breakfast to go ith the coffee and food truck favorites to go with the drinks are greater. The greatest is when the live music kicks in. The Strawberry Patch of Salado, Muscovy Coffee Roasters, and Marketplace Cafe and Creperie have similar concepts with limited but delicious breakfast menus complementing their other offerings.
Terlingua on Main hosts a variety of awesome food trucks with outdoor seating. There is also live music and shopping right there. When you are with a group, this is a great choice to satisfy everyone. The Pizza Place serves really, really good pizza. Who would have thought? And to finish: Vecchio Pallino Italian Gelato. ‘Nuff said.
There is a west side to Salado on the other side of the interstate. “Over there,” Johnny’s Steaks and Barbecue serves up Texas Roadhouse food and atmosphere done perfectly. Steaks and barbecue take center stage. Strike that because Johnny’s often hosts fairly big-time country stars who actually take center stage. Try Cowboy’s Barbecue, the meat counter at Robertson’s, or Big Tony’s Cheesesteaks on the west side of the highway for something a little less elaborate but still delicious.
Belton
Belton has two clusters of good restaurants, each at SH-317. Coming from the south, the first cluster is in traditional downtown Belton near Nolan Creek. The second is about a mile north in a more shopping center/suburbia area.
In downtown Belton, The Gin at Nolan Creek (traditional Texas cafe), Coronas de Oro Mexican (take a guess), and Scores Pizza and Wings are popular spots for their proximity to the water and ambiance. A block to the north of the creek, locals rave about Water Street Waffle Co. for breakfast and lunch. Just on the other side of the old courthouse there is old-school Italian comfort food at Napoli’s Italian Bistro or crafted pies at Oakfire Pizza and Brewing with rooftop seating. Not far away is the well-received Pastarico for higher-end Italian.
One more block to the north finds you with burgers and Texas classics at the Railway Express Diner in a renovated train depot. The diner shares the block with Early Light Creperie for the French morning delicacy; Katy Deli and hearty sandwiches; Pizza PieRos (another wood-fired pizza food truck);; and Nolan Creek Brewery for local beer, pizza, wings, and dogs.
If you move to the east (towards I-35) from downtown, you are moving towards high-end barbecue. Miller’s Smokehouse and Schoepf’s Barbecue have each landed on Texas Monthly’s list of the 50 best in Texas. Miller’s has the more recent success, but old-timers still like Schoepf’s.
Further to the north on SH 317, there is an eclectic mix of strip center finds. Most of these are near the university campus, so pricing appeals to a student’s budget. Some of the best-reviewed are Mosaic Grill for American staples and Mediterranean plus self-pour beer and wine (who wouldn’t love a beer wall?); Bobby Lupo’s NY Style Pizzeria; Mexicano Bar & Grill #13 (all-day Tex-Mex); Salgado’s Restaurant (Tex-Mex for breakfast and lunch); and B Town Burgers.
Outside of downtown, there are several special places. Dead Fish Grill has a beautiful view of Lake Belton and an extensive menu. To the south of downtown, Mi Pueblo has fans arguing for the best family Tex-Mex in Central Texas. Finally, Fry’s is one of those small-town institution-type cafes where the only thing older than the waitress is the griddle. Locals love it, and it is Texan to its core. Breakfast is served all day.
Temple
Most of Temple’s favorites are east of I-35, between Adams Avenue to the north and a stretch of Loop 363 to the south.
Towards the higher end, let’s begin with something for the carnivores at Cheeves Bros. Steakhouse. Pignetti’s has long been a go-to for Italian. Those two concepts merge at 17 South, an Italian Steakhouse. Treno Pizzeria and Taproom have you covered on the upscale flatbreads.
Cantina 1948 earns its reputation for better Mexican. Other reliable Tex-Mex options are El Sombrero Tapatio Mexican Restaurant and Las Marias Traditional Mexican.
Megg’s Cafe serves farm-fresh breakfasts and better lunches. Water Street Waffle Co. has a new second location in Temple, offering another stellar breakfast/lunch option. Bella Blue Cafe is just as good. You can’t miss eating at any of this trio.
In the cafe/dinner category, Temple has quantity. The Old Jody’s is basic and does not miss on chicken fried steak or burgers (Cash only). A Taste of Texas and Sam’s Southern Eatery are along the same line but the focus at Sam’s is on fish. Wes’s Burger Shack is an old-school, basic good burger and bun for a dependable meal.
Temple has a surprisingly diverse dining scene. Outside of the Texas food groups (Cafe/BBQ/Steakhouse/Tex-Mex+Italian (because everyone loves Italian)), you can find Cajun at Lulamae’s (food truck), sushi at Nami Japanese Steak and Sushi, Vietnamese at La Dalat; Irish pub at O’Briens; Thai at Thai Cafe; and Chinese at Sun’s Kitchen.
If you venture from downtown, you can head east to Oscar Store for a country dining experience that has been the same since 1934 or head west towards Lake Belton for a great outdoor atmosphere at the Commonwealth or highly regarded barbecue and atmosphere at Backyard Barbecue (technically in Morgan’s Point).
Killeen and Harker Heights
Remember that Fort Hoodis the reason so many people are in this area. Many of the troops spend time overseas and fall in love with the local food (and/or fall in love with the locals). Even if they have not yet served overseas, they hail from all across the country and love “their food.” Those loves come to Texas with them.
So there is an abundance of right-price restaurants from many cultures. Just a sampling includes Zum Edelweiss and Opa’s Schnitzel Hut for German, Acropolis for Greek, New Oriental for Korean, Taj Restaurant for Indian, Little Thai, Jamaica Nyammingz, The Shack Caribbean, Sakura Japanese and Sushi, or Kebab-istan for Middle Eastern.
From our shores, there is Rossler’s Blue Cord Barbecue, Cajun Crab & Shrimp, Heights Pizzeria, Geechie’s Southern Style Restaurant, Galaxy Bar & Grill for the Empire Burger, Ma’s Place for breakfast and comfort food, Bobby B’s Soul Food and many more.
A few words about Geechie’s: Best fried catfish in Texas. Trust us.
Night Life
Many of the places listed above have live music on occasion. We have tried to provide you with their websites and Facebook pages for schedules. If you want a night out for two-stepping with reliably good country western bands, try Bo’s Barn Dancehall in Belton any Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Bo’s is large and great. If you want small, great, and uber-authentic, head to Tom Sefcik Dance Hall for a Sunday afternoon dance.
Breweries, wineries, and distilleries can be nightlife or day life, but it feels right to include the overall list here.
BeeMaRosa Vineyard (Belton)
Bold Republic Brewery (Belton)
Nolan Creek Brewery (Belton)
Oakfire (Belton)
Phantom Warrior Brewery (Killeen)
Wilson Valley Mercantile Distillery (Little River)
Axis Winery (Salado)
Lone Star Winery and Chupacabra Craft Beer (Salado)
Bird Creek Brewing (Temple)
Moose & Goose Winery (Temple)
Three Texans Winery (Temple)
Where To Drop A Dime (Shop Local!)
The best weekend shopping experiences are in Salado and Belton. Temple has one must-see location. The rest of the county is great for people who live there, but there are no real must-visits for tourists.
Salado
Salado shopping can be divided into four categories: art galleries, vintage and antique, decor and gifts, and apparel. Of course, there is overlap, but we tried to put things in their correct place. We give you their websites to browse before you get there so your experience can be a little more targeted.
The offerings in Salado are a cut above (in quality and price) what you see in most of small-town Texas. Luckily, the area you have to cover to see the stores is confined. Most merchants will hold a potential purchase for you for a few hours, so take your time and try to see as much as possible before pulling the trigger.
Galleries include B. Herd Fine Art, Salado Glassworks, Solas Gallery, Wells Studio & Gallery, Uniquely Salado, Mud Pies Pottery, Griffith Fine Art, and Prellop Fine Art.
Vintage and Antiques are at Salado Antique Mall, Village Mill Antiques, Salado Creek Antiques, Isabella’s Vintage Decor, Antique Rose of Bell, 21 Main, Fletcher’s Books and Antiques, The Newton’s Antiques and Collectibles, and Buffalo Nickel Trading Post.
Gifts and decor can be captured at Shoppes on Main, MAKS Mercantile, H n H, Sofi’s at the Stagecoach, Salado General Store, The Strawberry Patch, Wildflower Market & Wine, Colibri, and Serendipity.
Women’s apparel at Christy’s of Salado, Susan Marie’s of Salado,, the Rose and Bee, Wild Texas Cowgirl, Presley Boutique, The Prickly Barrel Boutique at the Salado General Store, the Collective Bar-Tique, and Tex 28 Outfitters (men’s apparel).
Belton
The action and charm is on the square downtown. Cochran, Blair & Potts in the heart of downtown Belton is an absolute must. Operated since 1869 (not a typo), this place is a tribute to the department stores of our youth, of our parents’ youth, our grandparents’ youth, etc. High-quality merchandise keeps them going today. Blackbird Books & Spirits is an independent bookstore and a craft cocktail bar. For Texas Ten, that is the square of good things. Practically next door. Good things cubed! Close by is another independent bookseller, the McWha Bookstore (McWha is the last name of the owner).
The Exchange on Central houses 60 vendors and purveyors of a wide variety of goods. Boutiques abound, including Madden Grant, Turquoise and Buffalo, iMERAKI, Linda Lu’s on the Square, Pink Bulldog, and the Crow and Cactus. While Mom makes the rounds of the pretty shops, Dad may want to slip away to the Creekside Cigar Lounge.
Several blocks north of 6th Street, there is Texas Vintage Addictionand 6th Street Antiques. Happy Hunting.
Temple
As Temple is not a county seat, it lacks the downtown square feel Texas Ten loves. Still, if you love to wander, there is a huge draw. The HUB is a 10,000 sq. ft.+ shopping space in a beautifully renovated space. The more than 30 vendors offer well beyond the normal consignment inventory. Make some time to visit The HUB,
If you have not finished your antiquing/vintage goods tour, stop by 2nd St. Emporium and Parlours Antiques and Oddities. Terp’s Toys and Comics is worth a stop also.
Special Places to Lay Your Head (Stay Local!)
There are two larger properties that should be perfect for a weekend stay in Salado. The Inn on the Creek delivers all the charm and service you could want. It is by far your first option.
The Stagecoach Inn is a puzzle. The Stagecoach Is an iconic, historic property. For many years it was a destination hotel. It sold in the early part of this century, and it has been a bumpy ride since then. Once again under new ownership, let’s hope it returns to its former glory. One good sign is that the restaurant operations are being turned over to the Monument Cafe people from Georgetown, which should be a huge upgrade. The location, history, and building are there. Texas Ten advises that you pay close attention to recent reviews when deciding whether to book the Stagecoach.
Beyond these two, if you are looking for charm or luxury in Bell County, it will be a Bed and Breakfast or VRBO. There are lots of them. Demand is such that most require multi-night stays.
VRBO/Air BnB:
Bed and Breakfast:
For the Professional Traveller (Campgrounds and RV Parks)
Special Events
Belton is one of the best places in Texas to spend the 4th of July and the weekend surrounding it. The city puts on quite the party surrounding a three-night rodeo, in addition to the PRCA Rodeo in January or February each year.
The Bell County Fair is another extravaganza with big-time performers, a rodeo, a demolition derby, carnival rides, and cotton candy. It is usually held around Labor Day weekend.
December is Christmas on the Chisholm Trail in downtown Belton. It is a two-day celebration that includes a free movie on the square, tree lighting, a parade, a Christmas market, and Santa visits.
Salado seems to be constantly celebrating events or special performances. The Wildflower Arts & Crafts Festival in March, the Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering in May; Shakespeare on the Rock (and under the stars) and the Salado Springs Beer Festival every third June; Salado Legends (outdoor musical celebrating the area) across July and August; Sirena’s Creekside Carnival (family-centered event), Christmas in October (the official start of the Christmas season), and Oktoberfest at Barrow Brewing, all in October; the Scottish Gathering & Highland Games (Scottish traditions and athletic contests) in November; and A Christmas Carol (the play presented at Tablerock) and the Salado Christmas Stroll (parades, live nativity, Santa, and shopping specials), both in December.
Temple’s downtown comes alive with free live music and late-night shopping on the first Friday of every month.
Fore! (Golf Courses)
Bell County has golf. Quite a bit of it.
Mill Creek Country Club in Salado is a popular semi-private golf club. It has 27 holes designed by Robert Trent Jones, so variety is possible over a long day or weekend.
Wildflower Country Club is Temple’s private country club. You must make advance arrangements to gain access.
Sammons Park Golf Course is Temple’s 18-hole municipal layout with a full golf complex.
Stonetree Golf Course is a public, 18-hole track in Killeen.
For active-duty and retired military personnel, Fort Hoodhas an extensive golf complex with multiple courses at Clear Creek Golf.
If you are willing to drive a little, you can also find options in nearby Williamson, Lampasas, Coryell, and McLennan counties.
Getting to Bell County
They call it Central Texas for a reason. Temple, Belton, and Salado are all located on I-35, the state’s primary north-south thoroughfare and nominal east/west dividing line. Austin is 50 miles to the south, and Waco lies 50 miles to the north. The newly christened I-14 begins its westward path just south of Belton at I-35. From the east, SH 190 comes the closest to being a major route, it heads into Temple. In the bigger picture, Belton is two hours due east of the actual geographic center of the state in Brady, Texas.
If you are flying, Killeen and Waco have small regional airports serviced by American Airlines as the only major carrier. For other airlines, it is likely Austin Bergstrom International, an hour’s drive from the south. Smaller craft have several other options. Austin Executive Airport is a 45-minute drive from the south, and McGregor Executive Airport near Waco is the same from the north. Closer in, you have options at Salado, Killeen, and Temple.
History
The area now called Bell County was inhabited before 7,000 BC. Archaeological evidence of rock and mound burials and relics of daily life have been found. The Tonkawa Indians, a hunter-gatherer tribe, were also known to inhabit this land, hunting buffalo on foot before the introduction and eventual transition to horses. Due to its plentiful wildlife, the area was often shared by other native tribes such as Lipan Apaches, Wacos, Anadarkos, Kiowas, and Comanches. Buffalo, bears, and hogs were hunted to extinction in the mid-nineteenth century, and the last alligator in the area was reportedly killed in 1908.
By the 1840s, most of the Native groups had died due to the introduction of diseases brought by the Europeans that came to the area or were driven out by white settlers. The remaining Comanches in the region continued their raiding parties, with numerous interventions and bloody battles with the Texas Rangers until 1870.
Anglo settlement began in the 1830s when the area was named Robertson’s Colony, which had been part of a land grant given to Robert Leftwich and seventy other Nashville investors in the “Texas Association.” The size of land granted to settlers for ranching was based on the family size or the number of laborers brought with the grantees, with a quota of 800 total families. Much of these settlements were deserted during the Runaway Scrape but saw settlers return after peace treaties in 1843. In 1851, the name was changed to Belton, but Bell County was restored to its present boundaries after a series of boundary changes and a resurvey of the county line.
Bell County was initially part of Robertson’s Colony and Old Milam County. In January 1850, Bell County was officially established. Its namesake comes from Virginian Peter Bell, who left his native state to fight for Texas’ Independence. He later left the Texas Rangers to fight in the Mexican War, becoming an inspirational leader of his battalions. In 1849 and 1851, Bell was elected Governor of Texas. At the start of the Civil War, Bell was offered the position of Colonel in the Confederate Army by Jefferson Davis. Bell declined, preferring to live out his days on his wife’s family’s plantation in North Carolina.
Most residents supported the Confederacy, and in 1861, they voted for secession. At the start of the war, one-fourth of the 4,000 men enlisted. Those who remained home contributed to the war effort by producing shoes, saddles, and other items. Interestingly, the northern portion of the county from 1862-1865 was a gathering spot dubbed “Camp Safety” for Confederate deserters and Union supporters.
Reconstruction was a tumultuous time for the county, rife with murders, lynchings, and horse and cattle thefts. Angered by the lack of government pushback and control, a KKK-like group was organized in 1868. Despite this period of racism and lawlessness, it is interesting to note that a celibate group of “sanctificationist” women thrived in Belton who called themselves the Belton Woman’s Commonwealth until the 1890s.
Though farm values plummeted during the Civil War, values rose afterward, and the emergence of cotton farms and more cattle, sheep, and later goat ranches helped the fledgling economy. With the introduction of the Chisholm Trail and a main feeder route through the county north, growth continued through the 1930s. When a boll weevil infestation devastated the cotton fields, economic conditions worsened tocoincide with the Great Depression.
World Wars I and II significantly increased the growth of this county, with the establishment of the military base at Fort Hood , leading to the development of neighboring Killeen. The base added thousands of jobs and currently serves as home to nearly 65,000 soldiers and family members.
Politically, Bell County remained predominantly Democratic throughout Reconstruction, though there were several Greenbackers in the 1880s and Populists in 1892. In recent times, the county has leaned towards a more Republican base.
According to the 2020 Census, the population was 370,647, with a median income of $62,137. 27% of the population holds a Bachelor’s Degree or higher. 51.4 % of the population in Bell County is White and non-Hispanic, 25.2% is Hispanic or Latino, and 24.3% is Black.
Bell County is proud of its citizenry, particularly those who have made a name for themselves outside the county and state. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lucas Till, and George Ead stand out in the acting world. However, the music, gaming, and sporting worlds also have their fair share of celebrities. American singers and songwriters Joe Tex and Blind Willie Johnson come from Bell county, but they all take a backseat to Tejano legend José María De León Hernández or “Little Joe of Little Joe Y Familia. Pro basketball players Demond Greene, J.R. Pinnock, and video game designer Scott Cawthon are also of note.
Primary Sources:
Texas State Historical Society