National Register Listings in
Bell County, Texas

Anderson House and Store Armstrong-Adams House Austin, F. K. and Mary, House Baggett, Ele, House Baggett, Silas and Ellen, House Baines, George Washington, House Barbee-Berry Mercantile Building Barclay-Bryan House Bartlett Commercial Historic District Barton House Baylor Female College Historic District Beamer, William, House Bell County Courthouse Belton Academy Belton Commercial Historic District Belton Farmers' Gin Coop Belton Standpipe Belton Yarn Mill Birdwell, T. Hamp and Beulah, House Burford, R. F. and Lena, House Carnegie Public Library Cornelison House Davis House Elliott, Joel, House Ferguson House Ferguson, James A., House Ferguson, James E. and Miriam, House First Christian Church Parsonage Fowler House Frazier, Dr. Jacob Moore, House Gray Rental Houses Halley, Capt. Robert, House Hammersmith, John P., House Harris, Capt. Andrew Jackson, House Hendrickson-Caskey House High View House at 402 N. East St. House at 730 N. Beal St. Hudson, Dr. Taylor, House James House Killeen Downtown Historic District Killeen High School Kinchion, L. B., House Kyle Hotel Lee, Walter J., House McWhirter, George and Martha, House Means, V. R., House Miller, J. Z., House Miller-Curtis House Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Bridge at the Leon River Morey House Mount Zion United Methodist Church Naismith, Robert, House Norton-Orgain House Old St. Luke's Episcopal Church Potts, Arthur, House Robertson, Col. Elijah Sterling Clack, Plantation Rose, Maj. A. J., House Salado United Methodist Chruch Stagecoach Inn State Highway 53 Bridge at the Leon River Temple Commercial Historic District Tenney, Levi, House Twelve Oaks Tyler House Venable, W. J., House Vickrey House Ware, H. A. and Helena, House White-Aiken House Wilson, Ralph, Sr., and Sunny, House
The world's first rodeo was held in Pecos, Texas in 1883. The event included bronco riding, calf roping, and bull riding.
Texas random facts
Bell County, located in central Texas, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Tonkawa, Lipan Apache, and Comanche. European settlers began arriving in the early 19th century, with the first permanent settlement established in 1850 by Thomas M. Bigham, who built a log cabin near the Lampasas River.

The county was officially established in 1850 and named after Governor Peter H. Bell. It quickly grew as more settlers arrived to take advantage of the fertile land and abundant natural resources. Agriculture, particularly cotton farming, became the primary industry in the region, with the first cotton gin built in 1853. The county also became an important shipping point due to its proximity to the Chisholm Trail, which was used to drive cattle to markets in the north.

During the Civil War, Bell County played a significant role in supporting the Confederate cause. Several Confederate camps were established in the area, and the county experienced some military action, including the Battle of Stampede Valley in 1863. After the war, the county began to recover and diversify its economy. The railroad arrived in the late 19th century, bringing further growth and development.

In the 20th century, Bell County continued to experience growth and modernization. Fort Hood, one of the largest military installations in the country, was established in 1942. The presence of the military base provided a significant economic boost to the county and continues to be a major employer and contributor to the local economy. Today, Bell County is a thriving community with a diverse economy that includes agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and military-related industries.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Bell County, Texas.

  • 1834 - Bell County is established by the Republic of Texas
  • 1850 - The first permanent settlement, known as Nolanville, is established
  • 1851 - A post office is established in the town of Belton
  • 1852 - The county seat is moved from Nolanville to Belton
  • 1858 - The Belton Female College is founded
  • 1861-1865 - Bell County is heavily impacted by the American Civil War
  • 1870 - The Houston and Texas Central Railway arrives in Bell County, boosting economic growth
  • 1881 - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is founded in Belton
  • 1892 - The town of Temple is established as a railroad town
  • 1913 - The Santa Fe Railroad builds a major railroad station in Temple
  • 1920s - Bell County experiences an oil boom
  • 1957 - Construction begins on the Fort Hood military base
  • 1980s - Bell County's economy diversifies with the growth of healthcare and technology industries
  • 2005 - The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery is established in Killeen