# Bell County, Texas

Bell County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in Central Texas and its county seat is Belton. As of the 2020 census, its population was 370,647. 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.

## 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. This area became known as the Tennessee Valley. Soon after (1836) the settlements were deserted during the Runaway Scrape, reoccupied, deserted again after the Elmwood Creek Blood Scrape, and reoccupied. Texas Ranger George Erath established a fort on Little River.
During 1843–44, settlers began returning. The next year, the Republic of Texas founded Baylor Female College (since developed as University of Mary Hardin–Baylor).
In 1850, Bell County was organized and named for Texas Governor Peter Hansborough Bell. The population then was 600 whites and 60 black slaves. Belton was designated as the county seat in 1851.
The last serious Indian raid in the area occurred in 1859. Bell County assumed its present boundaries with the 1860 resurvey of the line between Bell and Milam Counties.
In 1861, the county voted for secession from the Union. 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". 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.
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.
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. 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. As another improvement, in 1905, the Belton and Temple Interurban electric railway was completed, providing service between the cities.
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.
In 1925, Miriam A. Ferguson, a native of the county, was inaugurated as the first woman governor of the state. She won re-election in 1932 for a nonconsecutive second term.
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.
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. .
The state founded Central Texas College in 1965 in Killeen.
Since the late 20th century, new retail development has taken the form of large malls. In 1976, Temple Mall opened. By 1980, Killeen became the most populous city in Bell County. The following year, the Killeen Mall opened, adding to retail choices in the area. 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 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. 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. In the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, Army major Nidal Hasan murdered 13 people and wounded 30 others before being paralyzed in return fire. In the 2014 Fort Hood shootings, Army Specialist Ivan Lopez murdered three people and wounded 16 others. 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. 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.

## Geography

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

### Adjacent counties

* McLennan County (north)
* Falls County (northeast)
* Milam County (southeast)
* Williamson County (south)
* Burnet County (southwest)
* Lampasas County (west)
* Coryell County (northwest)

## Demographics

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 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 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 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/km$^2$). The 125,470 housing units averaged 88 units per square mile (34/km$^2$). 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.
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 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.

## 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
Areas in the boundary of Central Texas College's service area, as defined by the Texas Education Code, include all of Killeen ISD, Fort Cavazos and North Fort Cavazos, and the Bell County portions of Copperas Cove ISD and Lampasas ISD.
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.
State legislation does not specify the community colleges of the Bruceville-Eddy ISD and Moody ISD areas.

## Transportation
### Major highways

These major highways run through Bell County:
* Interstate 14/U.S. Highway 190
* Interstate 35
* State Highway 36
* State Highway 53
* State Highway 95
* State Highway 195

### Mass transit

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. Amtrak also has scheduled service to Temple.

## 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

* Salado

### Census-designated place

* Fort Cavazos (partly in Coryell County)
* Pendleton

### Unincorporated communities

* Airville
* Belfalls
* Cedar Valley
* Cyclone
* Ding Dong
* Edgeworth
* Heidenheimer
* Joe Lee
* Leedale
* Maxdale
* Meeks
* Moffat
* New Colony
* Oenaville
* Oscar
* Owl Creek
* Prairie Dell
* Ratibor
* Red Ranger
* Seaton
* Sparks
* Stampede
* Summers Mill
* Union Grove
* Vilas
* White Hall
* Youngsport
* Zabcikville

### Ghost towns

* Bland
* Brookhaven
* Donahoe
* Ocker
* Old Troy
* Stringtown
* Sparta
* Tennessee Valley
* Old Aiken

## Government and Politics

United States presidential election results for Bell County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 75,161 | 57.37% | 53,973 | 41.20% | 1,879 | 1.43% |
| 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.
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.

### County government
#### Bell County elected officials

| Position | Name | Party |
| County Judge | David Blackburn | Republican |
| Commissioner, Precinct 1 | Russell Schneider | Republican |
| Commissioner, Precinct 2 | Bobby Whitson | Republican |
| Commissioner, Precinct 3 | Greg Reynolds | Republican |
| Commissioner, Precinct 4 | Louie Minor | Democratic |
| District Attorney | Stephanie Newell | Republican |
| District Clerk | Joanna Staton | Republican |
| County Attorney | James E. Nichols | Republican |
| County Clerk | Shelley Coston | Republican |
| Sheriff | Bill Cooke | Republican |
| Tax Assessor-Collector | Shay Luedeke | Republican |
| Treasurer | Gaylon Evans | Republican |
| County Court-at-Law #1 | Paul Motz | Republican |
| County Court-at-Law #2 | John Mischtian | Republican |
| County Court-at-Law #3 | Rebecca DePew | Republican |
| 27th Judicial District Court | Debbie Garrett | Republican |
| 146th Judicial District Court | Mike Russell | Republican |
| 169th Judicial District Court | Cari L. Starritt-Burnett | Republican |
| 264th Judicial District Court | Paul L. LePak | Republican |
| 426th Judicial District Court | Steve Duskie | Republican |
| 478th Judicial District Court | Wade Faulkner | Republican |
| Peace Justice, Pct. 1 | Theodore R. Duffield | Republican |
| Peace Justice, Pct. 2 | Cliff Coleman | Republican |
| Peace Justice, Pct. 3 Pl. 1 | Rosanne Fisher | Republican |
| Peace Justice, Pct. 3 Pl. 2 | Larry Wilkey | Republican |
| Peace Justice, Pct. 4 Pl. 1 | Gregory Johnson | Democratic |
| Peace Justice, Pct. 4 Pl. 2 | Nicola James | Democratic |
| Constable, Precinct 1 | Patricia "Pat" Duffield | Republican |
| Constable, Precinct 2 | Christopher "Chris" Bazar | Republican |
| Constable, Precinct 3 | Devin Rosenthal | Republican |
| Constable, Precinct 4 | Martha Dominguez | Democratic |