Bell County, Texas
Bell County | |
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UTC−5 (CDT) | |
Congressional districts | 11th, 31st |
Website | www |
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
The county was founded in 1850 and is named for
In 2010, the center of population of Texas was located in Bell County, near the town of Holland.[4]
History
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.
In 1861, the county voted for
During the early years of the
The coming of railroads in the late 19th century stimulated growth across the state. In 1881, the
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
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 mass shootings. 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] In the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, Army major Nidal Hasan murdered 13 people and wounded 30 others before being paralyzed in return fire.[16] In the 2014 Fort Hood shootings, Army Specialist Ivan Lopez murdered three people and wounded 16 others.[17]
Geography
According to the
Adjacent counties
- McLennan County (north)
- Falls County (northeast)
- Milam County (southeast)
- Williamson County (south)
- Burnet County (southwest)
- Lampasas County (west)
- Coryell County (northwest)
Demographics
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% | |
2023 (est.) | 393,193 | [19] | 6.1% |
U.S. Decennial Census[20] 1850–2010[21] 2010[22] 2020[23] |
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[22] | Pop 2020[23] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH)
|
157,289 | 156,780 | 50.70% | 42.30% |
Black or African American alone (NH)
|
63,380 | 80,759 | 20.43% | 21.79% |
Alaska Native alone (NH)
|
1,484 | 1,448 | 0.48% | 0.39% |
Asian alone (NH) | 8,350 | 10,884 | 2.69% | 2.94% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2,245 | 3,454 | 0.72% | 0.93% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 500 | 2,063 | 0.16% | 0.56% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 9,977 | 21,792 | 3.22% | 5.88% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 67,010 | 93,467 | 21.60% | 25.22% |
Total | 310,235 | 370,647 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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 can be of any race.
As of the
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
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, and for a family was $41,455. Males had a median income of $28,031 versus $22,364 for females. The
Education
Bell County is served by several school districts:
- Academy Independent School District
- Bartlett Independent School District (partial)
- Belton Independent School District
- Bruceville-Eddy Independent School District (partial)
- Copperas Cove Independent School District (partial)
- Florence Independent School District (partial)
- Gatesville Independent School District (partial)
- Holland Independent School District (partial)
- Killeen Independent School District (partial)
- Lampasas Independent School District (partial)
- Moody Independent School District (partial)
- Rogers Independent School District (partial)
- Rosebud-Lott Independent School District (partial)
- Salado Independent School District
- Temple Independent School District
- Troy Independent School District
Transportation
Major highways
These major highways run through Bell County:
- U.S. Highway 190
- Interstate 35
- State Highway 36
- State Highway 53
- State Highway 95
- State Highway 195
Mass transit
The
Communities
Cities
- Bartlett (partly in Williamson County)
- Belton (county seat)
- Copperas Cove (mostly in Coryell County and a small part in Lampasas County)
- Harker Heights
- Holland
- Killeen (largest city)
- Little River-Academy
- Morgan's Point Resort
- Nolanville
- Rogers
- Temple
- Troy
Village
Census-designated place
- Fort Cavazos (partly in Coryell County)
- Pendleton
Unincorporated communities
Ghost towns
Politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 67,893 | 53.17% | 57,014 | 44.65% | 2,783 | 2.18% |
2016 | 51,998 | 54.33% | 37,801 | 39.50% | 5,902 | 6.17% |
2012 | 49,574 | 57.36% | 35,512 | 41.09% | 1,339 | 1.55% |
2008 | 49,242 | 54.36% | 40,413 | 44.61% | 935 | 1.03% |
2004 | 52,135 | 65.39% | 27,165 | 34.07% | 424 | 0.53% |
2000 | 41,208 | 65.11% | 21,011 | 33.20% | 1,072 | 1.69% |
1996 | 30,348 | 53.20% | 22,638 | 39.68% | 4,063 | 7.12% |
1992 | 24,936 | 45.27% | 18,684 | 33.92% | 11,457 | 20.80% |
1988 | 29,382 | 61.79% | 17,751 | 37.33% | 418 | 0.88% |
1984 | 31,117 | 69.52% | 13,322 | 29.76% | 323 | 0.72% |
1980 | 20,729 | 54.72% | 15,823 | 41.77% | 1,333 | 3.52% |
1976 | 15,126 | 45.96% | 17,499 | 53.17% | 287 | 0.87% |
1972 | 17,525 | 71.79% | 6,848 | 28.05% | 38 | 0.16% |
1968 | 5,705 | 26.98% | 11,893 | 56.24% | 3,547 | 16.77% |
1964 | 2,938 | 16.78% | 14,557 | 83.13% | 17 | 0.10% |
1960 | 4,606 | 30.13% | 10,651 | 69.67% | 31 | 0.20% |
1956 | 4,285 | 30.76% | 9,603 | 68.93% | 44 | 0.32% |
1952 | 4,862 | 33.86% | 9,484 | 66.05% | 12 | 0.08% |
1948 | 1,069 | 11.73% | 7,548 | 82.83% | 496 | 5.44% |
1944 | 763 | 8.52% | 6,960 | 77.72% | 1,232 | 13.76% |
1940 | 1,050 | 12.40% | 7,418 | 87.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 475 | 7.17% | 6,119 | 92.42% | 27 | 0.41% |
1932 | 724 | 8.67% | 7,607 | 91.06% | 23 | 0.28% |
1928 | 3,366 | 52.17% | 3,079 | 47.72% | 7 | 0.11% |
1924 | 1,632 | 17.26% | 7,273 | 76.91% | 552 | 5.84% |
1920 | 483 | 7.94% | 3,595 | 59.12% | 2,003 | 32.94% |
1916 | 356 | 8.54% | 3,615 | 86.75% | 196 | 4.70% |
1912 | 128 | 4.01% | 3,024 | 94.68% | 42 | 1.31% |
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. The county has been trending Democratic, similar to the patterns of the state as a whole.
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.[28]
See also
- List of museums in Central Texas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Bell County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Bell County
- Hugh Shine, Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Bell County
References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Bell County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ "Bell County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- ^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Cutrer, Thomas W. "George Bernard Erath". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-88146-130-5.
- ^ "Belton, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- ^ "Bell County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Leffler, John. "Killeen, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- ^ "Temple Mall" (PDF). Urban Retail Properties. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
- ^ "Killeen Mall" (PDF). Jones Lang Lasalle. March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
- ^ Woodbury, Richard (October 28, 1991). "Crime: Ten Minutes in Hell". Time. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- KVUE. April 2, 2014. Archived from the originalon April 5, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- US Census Bureau.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Leonhardt, David; Quealy, Kevin (June 26, 2015), "Where Same-Sex Couples Live", The New York Times, retrieved July 6, 2015
- ^ "The Hop General Info". Hill Country Transit District. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ "TX 2022 Congressional". Dave's Redistricting. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
External links
- Official website
- Bell County, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Bell County from the Texas Almanac
- Bell County from the TXGenWeb Project
- Bell County Ex Confederate Association Ledger, From 1888 To 1920.
- Historic Bell County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.