Population402,248 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
Many Communities at a Central Crossroads
Bell County, TexasBell County brings a cluster of Central Texas communities into one regional setting. Belton is the county seat, Killeen is its largest city, and Temple is another major local center. Smaller places, including Holland, Rogers and Troy, give the county a broader identity than any single city can provide. Start by choosing the community closest to your plans, then use this guide to connect the county’s history, public services and neighboring places.
Bell County at a Glance
Population402,248 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
County SeatBelton
Largest CityKilleen
Established1850
ZIP Codes31
Total Area1,088 sq mi (2,820 km 2 )
Major RoutesThese major highways run through Bell County:; Interstate 14 Interstate 35 U.S. Highway 190 State Highway 36 State Highway 53 State Highway 95 State Highway 195 State Highway 201 State Highway 320 Loop 121 Loop 363 Spur 172 Spur 290
Area Code254
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
Discover the County
Bell County
Established in 1850, Bell County takes its name from Peter Hansborough Bell, the third governor of Texas. Belton was designated the county seat in 1851. Earlier settlements along the Little River formed part of Robertson’s Colony, and later railroad development helped change the county’s pattern of growth. The University of Mary Hardin–Baylor also traces its institutional origins to the Republic of Texas era. These overlapping histories help explain the county’s several centers of community life.
Bell County is easiest to understand as a network of communities. Belton, Temple and Killeen offer different starting points, while towns such as Holland, Troy and Little River-Academy add smaller-scale destinations. The county covers more than a thousand square miles, so a useful itinerary should group nearby stops instead of assuming everything is close together. Check the relevant city or county source for a specific service, venue or event before setting out.
What Shapes Us
Little River Beginnings
Settlement along the Little River preceded the county’s creation. The story of Robertson’s Colony offers one starting point for understanding the area’s nineteenth-century development.
Regional Connections
Bell County forms part of the Killeen–Temple metropolitan area. Its multiple urban centers and smaller towns make community-to-community connections central to the local map.
Choose Your Starting Point
Belton, Killeen and Temple share the county with a collection of smaller communities. Match your plans to a particular place, then build an itinerary outward.
Different hometowns contribute to one Central Texas community.
My Local Guide
Bell County
Our County. Our Stories.
The Texas Tribune — Statewide
TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?
Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.
Read the Story Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
News & resources for Bell County
Local reporting when available, plus statewide Texas news and official resources.
TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?
Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Democrat Jon Rosenthal outraises Bo French in Railroad Commission race in latest report
A big chunk of Rosenthal’s haul came after French’s racist social media comments following a UT-Austin football game…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Greg Abbott outraised Gina Hinojosa but burned through much of his campaign cash in Texas governor’s race
Abbott outspent Hinojosa 6-to-1 from July to late September, but the governor’s narrow polling lead was largely unchanged…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Law enforcement Democrat, GOP Air Force vet upend partisan script in race for new San Antonio U.S. House district
The 35th Congressional District was redrawn to elect a Republican, but Latino voters’ brewing leftward shift has put…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
These are the most competitive November races up and down Texas’ midterm ballot
Texas has an unusually large slate of competitive races for the state Legislature and U.S. House this year.…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Useful connections for everyday life
Find public information and services through the county and relevant service providers.
Government
County & local resources
Food, housing & family support
Central Texas Food Bank — food assistance
Regional food-bank network serving Bell County. Find a nearby pantry or distribution and confirm its schedule before visiting.
Central Texas Food Bank — food assistance — details and contacts
2-1-1 Texas — local assistance
Search community assistance by location and type of need, including food, housing and family support.
Texas HHS — local family support
Search family-support programs and local services for parents and caregivers.
Schools
County & local resources
Child care & learning
Texas Child Care Connection — scholarships
Review child-care scholarship information and the application process for families who need care while working or attending education or training.
Texas Child Care Connection — scholarships — details and contacts
Bell County — AgriLife Extension
Find county Extension contacts, local educational programs and 4-H information.
Hospitals
County & local resources
Adventhealth Central Texas — Acute Care Hospitals
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple — Acute Care Hospitals
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights — Acute Care Hospitals
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Darnall Amc (Ft Cavazos) — Acute Care – Department of Defense
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Temple Va Medical Center (Va Central Texas Healthcare System) — Acute Care – Veterans Administration
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Canyon Creek Behavioral Health — Psychiatric
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Cedar Crest Hospital & Rtc — Psychiatric
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Health, aging & caregiver support
Texas WIC — office locator
Find a nearby WIC office and contact it about appointments, nutrition support and eligibility.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
Find the regional center that helps older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers explore services and support.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers — details and contacts
Local mental and behavioral health authorities
Use the Texas HHS directory to find the authority serving your county and its contact information.
Local mental and behavioral health authorities — details and contacts
Public Safety
County & local resources
Sheriff
Sheriff’s office information, public safety resources and non-emergency contacts.
Emergency Services
For an immediate emergency, call 911. These links provide emergency planning, coordination and recovery information.
County & local resources
Texas Division of Emergency Management — Region 8 serving Bell County
Emergency preparedness, local alerts and response information.
Prepare before an emergency
Texas Ready — emergency planning materials
Download emergency plans, supply checklists and preparedness materials in English and Spanish.
Texas Ready — emergency planning materials — details and contacts
State Parks
No qualifying TPWD state park open for ordinary public visits was verified for Bell County in the reviewed sources as of October 3, 2026. This is a limitation of this guide’s verified list, not a statement that none exists. Other sourced outdoor options appear in the local directory below.
Trails
Selected local walking, hiking, cycling or paddling options. Check the linked operator or local tourism information for access, fees and current conditions.
County & local resources
Texas resources
Miller Springs Nature Center
Outdoor recreation, routes and visitor planning information.
Utilities
Water utilities listed for the county. Confirm the provider for your specific address; service territories vary within county lines.
County & local resources
CITY OF HARKER HEIGHTS
Utility services, consumer information and provider contacts.
CITY OF MORGANS POINT RESORT
Utility services, consumer information and provider contacts.
Help with household costs
Help for Texans — housing and utility assistance
Find local providers for utility bills, housing, weatherization and accessibility repairs. Providers handle applications; availability and eligibility vary.
Help for Texans — housing and utility assistance — details and contacts
Libraries
County & local resources
Teinert Memorial Public Library
Library locations, collections and public services.
Accessible reading & library services
Texas Talking Book Program
Learn about accessible library services for qualifying Texans with visual, physical or reading disabilities.
Courts
Use the named county court links or search the official Texas courts directory by county and court name. Confirm the hearing or filing location directly; a regional court may serve more than one county.
County & local resources
Bell County — County Court (County Constitutional Court)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bell County — 146th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bell County — 169th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bell County — 264th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bell County — 27th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bell County — 426th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Bell County — 478th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Find legal assistance
TexasLawHelp — legal help directory
Search legal-aid organizations by counties covered and area of legal help. Each organization determines service availability and eligibility.
DMV
For local vehicle titles and registration, start with the county tax office. Texas DPS handles driver licenses.
County & local resources
Bell County Tax Office
Tax office information, payments and available services.
Texas resources
Buying or selling a vehicle
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Apply for a Texas driver license
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Driver license appointments
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Transportation
These agencies or county departments serve local transportation needs. Check routes, service boundaries, eligibility and advance booking with the provider.
County & local resources
Postal Services
Local postal facilities listed in USPS property records. Confirm retail hours, available services and temporary closures with USPS before visiting.
County & local resources
Heidenheimer Post Office — Mpo/Modular Bldg
Postal locations, mailing services and address information.
Killeen Post Office — Copper Mountain Sta
Postal locations, mailing services and address information.
Pendleton Post Office — Mo/Modular Bldg
Postal locations, mailing services and address information.
National resources
USPS — confirm local hours and services
Postal locations, mailing services and address information.
Veterans
County & local resources
Veterans Treatment Court
Veterans services, benefits information and support resources.
Bell County veterans service contact — (254) 933-5915
Veterans services, benefits information and support resources.
National resources
Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center
Veterans services, benefits information and support resources.
Employment
County & local resources
Workforce Solutions Central Texas — 201 SANTA FE WAY
, TEMPLE, 76501
Employment opportunities, job-search assistance and workforce services.
Workforce Solutions Central Texas — 300 CHEYENNE DR
, KILLEEN, 76542
Employment opportunities, job-search assistance and workforce services.
Job search & employment support
Workforce Solutions — find an office
Find nearby workforce offices for job-search, training and employer services.
Vocational rehabilitation — office lookup
Find a vocational rehabilitation office to discuss employment services for people with disabilities.
Vocational rehabilitation — office lookup — details and contacts
A little local knowledge goes a long way
Find practical information before you visit or make a move.
Helpful Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with the essentials, then follow the source links for more detail.
Belton is the county seat of Bell County, Texas.
The county overview lists Killeen as its largest community.
The total area is 1,088 sq mi (2,820 km 2 ), including land and water.
Use the Bell County government website for county offices and public information.
Stillhouse Hollow Lake offers lake recreation and camping facilities. Use the official facility listings to choose a specific park or campground and check current availability.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park directory identifies its recreation areas around the lake. Select a park first so that directions and access details match your intended destination.
Temples Lake Park is on Belton Lake. Its official recreation listing provides details for planning a visit.
For office information, start with Bell County — Tax Assessor-Collector. Check that page for current office details before a visit.
The county links residents to Bell County — County Clerk. Check that page for current office details before a visit.
For departmental information, use Bell County — Sheriff. Check that page for current office details before a visit.
Use the official Bell County — Commissioners Court. Check that page for current office details before a visit.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make time for a local discoveryPlan your day around places and experiences in the county.
Kids’ Fun
- Temple Children’s Museum — Hands-on play and learning for young children in downtown Temple. Check admission and reservation information before visiting.
- Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum — Explore railroad exhibits inside the historic Santa Fe Depot. General admission is charged, with selected age and military exceptions.
- Whistlestop Playground — Add an outdoor play stop near the Santa Fe Depot, museum and plaza to a family visit.
Restaurants
- Pignetti’s Temple — Italian dining in downtown Temple; browse the restaurant’s current menu before your visit.
- Treno Pizzeria & Taproom — Wood-fired pizza and salads on South First Street in Temple.
- The Gin at Nolan Creek — A downtown Belton dining stop near the courthouse and Nolan Creek; consult its current opening days.
Shopping & Retail
- 2nd Street Emporium — Browse antiques and collectibles in downtown Temple, as listed by the city’s tourism office.
- Relics Antiques — A downtown Temple stop for vintage finds and antiques.
- The Hub — A Temple shopping destination with vendor collections spanning gifts, home decor, apparel and vintage items.
Clothing & Boutiques
- Main Street Design & Consign — The city’s August 2026 downtown guide highlights boutique clothing and jeans at this Temple shop.
- The Hub apparel — Browse apparel and accessories among the local vendor collections at The Hub in Temple.
- Twice Upon A Clothesline — A downtown Temple shop for gently used clothing, listed by the local tourism office.
Outdoor Fun
- Miller Springs Nature Center — Explore the nature center using Texas Parks and Wildlife’s site information; check local trail conditions before heading out.
- Pepper Creek Trail — A Temple trail option for a walk or bike ride; consult current trail maps and conditions.
- Friar’s Creek Hike and Bike Trail — Another Temple walking and cycling route highlighted by the tourism office.
Free Things To Do
- Bell County Museum — The museum in Belton lists free admission; check its visitor page for opening information.
- Downtown Temple murals — Explore the downtown public murals on a self-guided walk, listed among Temple’s free activities.
- Art Train Trail — Walk downtown to find the miniature public-art trains celebrating Temple’s railroad history and local artists.
Every place has a story.Find Your Next Favorite.