Bell County, Texas (original) (raw)

County in Texas, United States

County in Texas

Bell County
County
The Bell County Courthouse in BeltonThe Bell County Courthouse in Belton
Map of Texas highlighting Bell CountyLocation within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting TexasTexas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°02′N 97°29′W / 31.04°N 97.48°W / 31.04; -97.48
Country United States
State Texas
Founded 1850
Named after Peter Hansborough Bell
Seat Belton
Largest city Killeen
Area
• Total 1,088 sq mi (2,820 km2)
• Land 1,051 sq mi (2,720 km2)
• Water 37 sq mi (96 km2) 3.4%
Population (2020)
• Total 370,647
• Estimate (2024) 399,578 Increase
• Density 352.7/sq mi (136.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 11th, 31st
Website www.bellcountytx.com

Bell County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in Central Texas and its county seat is Belton.[1] As of the 2020 census, its population was 370,647.[2][3] Bell County is part of the Killeen–Temple, Texas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county was founded in 1850 and is named for Peter Hansborough Bell, the third governor of Texas. In 2010, the center of population of Texas was located in Bell County, near the town of Holland.[4]

In 1834–1835, Little River became part of Robertson's Colony, made up of settlers from Nashville, Tennessee, led by Sterling C. Robertson; they were the families of Captain Goldsby Childers, Robert Davison, John Fulcher, Moses Griffin, John Needham, Michael Reed and his son William Whitaker Reed, William Taylor, and Judge Orville T. Tyler.[5] This area became known as the Tennessee Valley. Soon after (1836) the settlements were deserted during the Runaway Scrape,[6] reoccupied, deserted again after the Elmwood Creek Blood Scrape, and reoccupied. Texas Ranger George Erath established a fort on Little River.[7]

During 1843–44, settlers began returning.[5] The next year, the Republic of Texas founded Baylor Female College (since developed as University of Mary Hardin–Baylor).[8]

In 1850, Bell County was organized and named for Texas Governor Peter Hansborough Bell. The population then was 600 whites and 60 black slaves.[5] Belton[9] was designated as the county seat in 1851.

The last serious Indian raid in the area occurred in 1859.[5] Bell County assumed its present boundaries[5] with the 1860 resurvey of the line between Bell and Milam Counties.

Confederate statue at Bell County Courthouse

In 1861, the county voted for secession from the Union.[5] Residents were divided, as many yeomen farmers did not support the war. From 1862 to 1865, Union sympathizers and Confederate deserters holed up in "Camp Safety".[5] Following the war, new social movements developed. In 1867, the Belton Women's Commonwealth, the first women's movement in Central Texas, was formed by Martha McWhirter. The group provided shelter to women in abusive relationships.[5]

During the early years of the Reconstruction era (1865–1877), so much violence occurred in the county that the government stationed federal troops in Belton. Some racist whites attacked blacks and their white supporters. Corruption, lawlessness, and racial divides were severe. As in many areas, a local version of white paramilitary insurgents developed who were similar to the Ku Klux Klan; they worked to suppress black and Republican voting.[5]

The coming of railroads in the late 19th century stimulated growth across the state. In 1881, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway, the first railroad to be built in Bell County, established Temple as its headquarters.[5] Reflecting growth in the county, in 1884, the Bell County Courthouse was built. It is still used. The ambitious Renaissance Revival design was by architect Jasper N. Preston and Sons.[10] As another improvement, in 1905, the Belton and Temple Interurban electric railway was completed, providing service between the cities.[5]

During the 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan underwent a revival in Bell County. In many areas, it was concentrated on nativist issues, opposing Catholic and Jewish immigration from eastern and southern Europe. After a scandal involving the leader of the KKK, the group's influence declined markedly by the end of the decade.[5]

In 1925, Miriam A. Ferguson, a native of the county, was inaugurated as the first woman governor of the state.[11] She won re-election in 1932 for a nonconsecutive second term.[11]

The county and state supported founding Temple Junior College in 1926. The entry of the United States in World War II stimulated war spending across the country. In 1942, Fort Hood was opened as a military training base. It drew recruits from across the country.[5]

The postwar period was one of suburbanization in many areas. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools, supported by all the taxpayers, was unconstitutional. Two years later, the Killeen school board voted to integrate the local high school. .[12]

The state founded Central Texas College in 1965 in Killeen.[12]

Since the late 20th century, new retail development has taken the form of large malls. In 1976, Temple Mall opened.[13] By 1980, Killeen became the most populous city in Bell County.[12] The following year, the Killeen Mall opened, adding to retail choices in the area.[14] In another type of development, the Bell County Expo Center opened in 1987.

Since the late 20th century, the county has been the site of several notable violent incidents. On October 16, 1991, in the Luby's shooting, George Hennard murdered 23 people and wounded 27 others before killing himself. It was the deadliest mass shooting in the United States at the time.[15] On June 21st, 1999, Brandon Bernard and four accomplices kidnapped and murdered youth pastors Todd and Stacie Bagley near Killeen, Texas. The ringleader, Christopher Vialva, shot the couple before Bernard set their car on fire. Their bodies were found in Belton Lake. Vialva was sentenced to death, and Bernard, also sentenced to death, was executed in 2020.[16] In the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, Army major Nidal Hasan murdered 13 people and wounded 30 others before being paralyzed in return fire.[17] In the 2014 Fort Hood shootings, Army Specialist Ivan Lopez murdered three people and wounded 16 others.[18] On May 3, 2022, a stabbing at Belton High School by a fellow student left 18-year-old Jose Luis "Joe" Ramirez Jr. critically injured. He later died from complications in a local hospital. The suspect, Caysen Tyler Allison, was arrested and charged.[19] On December 21, 2024, John Darrel Schultz, 53, drove a pickup truck through the outside entrance of the JCPenney store at the Killeen Mall during a police chase, striking five people inside before being fatally shot by officers.[20]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,088 square miles (2,820 km2), of which 1,051 square miles (2,720 km2) are land and 37 square miles (96 km2) (3.4%) are covered by water.[21]

Historical population

Census Pop. Note %±
1860 4,799 —
1870 9,771 103.6%
1880 20,518 110.0%
1890 33,377 62.7%
1900 45,535 36.4%
1910 49,186 8.0%
1920 46,412 −5.6%
1930 50,030 7.8%
1940 44,863 −10.3%
1950 73,824 64.6%
1960 94,097 27.5%
1970 124,483 32.3%
1980 157,889 26.8%
1990 191,088 21.0%
2000 237,974 24.5%
2010 310,235 30.4%
2020 370,647 19.5%
2024 (est.) 399,578 [22] 7.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[23]1850–2010[24] 2010[25] 2020[26]

Bell County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition_Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race._

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[27] Pop 2010[25] Pop 2020[26] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 136,241 157,289 156,780 57.25% 50.70% 42.30%
Black or African American alone (NH) 47,344 63,380 80,759 19.89% 20.43% 21.79%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,297 1,484 1,448 0.55% 0.48% 0.39%
Asian alone (NH) 5,935 8,350 10,884 2.49% 2.69% 2.94%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1,005 2,245 3,454 0.42% 0.72% 0.93%
Other race alone (NH) 479 500 2,063 0.20% 0.16% 0.56%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 5,972 9,977 21,792 2.51% 3.22% 5.88%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 39,701 67,010 93,467 16.68% 21.60% 25.22%
Total 237,974 310,235 370,647 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[28] of 2010, 310,235 people, 114,035 households, and 80,449 families resided in the county. The population density was 295.2 people per square mile (114.0 people/km2). The 125,470 housing units averaged 88 units per square mile (34/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 61.4% White, 21.5% Black, 0.8% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0.8% Pacific Islander, and 5.0% from two or more races. About 21.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race; 14.9% were of Mexican, 3.6% were of Puerto Rican, 0.2% Cuban, and 0.2% were of Dominican descent.

Of the 85,507 households, 40.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were not families. About 22.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.14. As of the 2010 census, about 3.6 same-sex couples per 1,000 households were in the county.[29]

In the county, the population was distributed as 28.90% under the age of 18, 13.40% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 17.00% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was 36,872,andforafamilywas36,872, and for a family was 36,872,andforafamilywas41,455. Males had a median income of 28,031versus28,031 versus 28,031versus22,364 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,219. About 9.70% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Bell County is served by several school districts:[30]

Areas in the boundary of Central Texas College's service area, as defined by the Texas Education Code, include all of Killeen ISD, Fort Hood and North Fort Hood, and the Bell County portions of Copperas Cove ISD and Lampasas ISD.[31]

Areas in the boundary of Temple Junior College's service area include Academy ISD, Bartlett ISD, Belton ISD, Holland ISD, Rogers ISD, Salado ISD, Temple ISD, and Troy ISD.[32]

State legislation does not specify the community colleges of the Bruceville-Eddy ISD and Moody ISD areas.

These major highways run through Bell County:

The Hill Country Transit District operates a regularly scheduled fixed-route bus service within the urban areas of Killeen and Temple, as well as a paratransit service throughout the county.[33] Amtrak also has scheduled service to Temple.

The Bell County Expo Center, located off Interstate Highway 35 north of Belton

Census-designated place

[edit]

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

Government and Politics

[edit]

Politically, Bell County tends to support Republican Party candidates for office. It has voted for the Republican presidential nominee every cycle beginning with Ronald Reagan in 1980. While the county had been trending Democratic, it rebounded in 2024 to give Republicans their strongest performance in 20 years. This is partially attributed to the large military presence, which tends to lean Republican, as well as the growth of Hispanics in the county,[36] a population that shifted heavily towards Republicans in 2024.

The county is a bellwether for Texas, voting for the statewide winner of every presidential election in Texas, except in 1952 and 1956. In 1952 and 1956, Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower (who was born in Texas) won the state while losing Bell County.

Democratic strength in the county is concentrated in the city of Killeen, which gave Joe Biden 63.4% of the vote in the 2020 election. The remainder of the county, particularly the cities of Belton and Temple, is much more strongly Republican. [37]

Bell County elected officials

[edit]

Position Name Party
County Judge David Blackburn
Commissioner, Precinct 1 Russell Schneider
Commissioner, Precinct 2 Bobby Whitson
Commissioner, Precinct 3 Greg Reynolds
Commissioner, Precinct 4 Louie Minor
District Attorney Stephanie Newell
District Clerk Joanna Staton
County Attorney James E. Nichols
County Clerk Shelley Coston
Sheriff Bill Cooke
Tax Assessor-Collector Shay Luedeke
Treasurer Gaylon Evans
County Court-at-Law #1 Paul Motz
County Court-at-Law #2 John Mischtian
County Court-at-Law #3 Rebecca DePew
27th Judicial District Court Debbie Garrett
146th Judicial District Court Mike Russell
169th Judicial District Court Cari L. Starritt-Burnett
264th Judicial District Court Paul L. LePak
426th Judicial District Court Steve Duskie
478th Judicial District Court Wade Faulkner
Peace Justice, Pct. 1 Theodore R. Duffield
Peace Justice, Pct. 2 Cliff Coleman
Peace Justice, Pct. 3 Pl. 1 Rosanne Fisher
Peace Justice, Pct. 3 Pl. 2 Larry Wilkey
Peace Justice, Pct. 4 Pl. 1 Gregory Johnson
Peace Justice, Pct. 4 Pl. 2 Nicola James
Constable, Precinct 1 Patricia "Pat" Duffield
Constable, Precinct 2 Christopher "Chris" Bazar
Constable, Precinct 3 Devin Rosenthal
Constable, Precinct 4 Martha Dominguez
  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Bell County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  3. ^ "Bell County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  4. ^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Connor, Seymour V; Odintz, Mark. "Bell County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on December 21, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  6. ^ Covington, Carolyn Callaway. "Runaway Scrape". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  7. ^ Cutrer, Thomas W. "George Bernard Erath". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  8. ^ Brackney, William H (2009). Congregation and Campus: Baptists in Higher Education. Mercer University Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-88146-130-5.
  9. ^ "Belton, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  10. ^ "Bell County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  11. ^ a b Huddleston, John. "Miriam Ferguson". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on December 21, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  12. ^ a b c Leffler, John. "Killeen, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  13. ^ "Temple Mall" (PDF). Urban Retail Properties. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  14. ^ "Killeen Mall" (PDF). Jones Lang Lasalle. March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  15. ^ Woodbury, Richard (October 28, 1991). "Crime: Ten Minutes in Hell". Time. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  16. ^ Opsahl, Robin. "Todd and Stacie Bagley: What we know about the Iowa couple killed in Brandon Bernard's case". The Des Moines Register.
  17. ^ Rubin, Josh (August 6, 2013). "'I am the shooter,' Nidal Hasan tells Fort Hood court-martial". CNN. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  18. ^ "Shooter reported dead at Fort Hood, 14 others injured". KVUE. April 2, 2014. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  19. ^ "Parents react to fatal Belton High School stabbing". 25 News KXXV and KRHD. May 4, 2022.
  20. ^ "Pickup truck driver killed by police after driving through busy mall store is identified". AP News. December 22, 2024.
  21. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  22. ^ "QuickFacts: Bell County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  23. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  25. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bell County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bell County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  27. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bell County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  28. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  29. ^ Leonhardt, David; Quealy, Kevin (June 26, 2015), "Where Same-Sex Couples Live", The New York Times, retrieved July 6, 2015
  30. ^ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bell County, TX (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2024. - Text list
  31. ^ Texas Education Code, Section 130.171, "Central Texas College District Service Area".
  32. ^ "EDUCATION CODE CHAPTER 130. JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICTS". statutes.capitol.texas.gov.
  33. ^ "The Hop General Info". Hill Country Transit District. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  34. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  35. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  36. ^ writer, Angel Sierra | Herald staff (November 12, 2016). "Killeen's deep blue filling sea of red". The Killeen Daily Herald. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  37. ^ "TX 2022 Congressional". Dave's Redistricting. Retrieved August 24, 2023.

31°02′N 97°29′W / 31.04°N 97.48°W / 31.04; -97.48