Killeen, Texas

History

In 1881, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway extended its tracks through central Texas, buying 360 acre a few miles southwest of a small farming community known as Palo Alto, which had existed since about 1872. The railroad platted a 70-block town on its land and named it after Frank P. Killeen, the assistant general manager of the railroad. By the next year, the town included a railroad depot, a saloon, several stores, and a school. Many of the residents of the surrounding smaller communities in the area moved to Killeen. By 1884, the town had grown to include about 350 people, served by five general stores, two gristmills, two cotton gins, two saloons, a lumberyard, a blacksmith shop, and a hotel.

Killeen expanded as it became an important shipping point for cotton, wool, and grain in western Bell and eastern Coryell Counties. By 1900, its population was about 780.

Around 1905, local politicians and businessmen convinced the Texas legislature to build bridges over Cowhouse Creek and other streams, doubling Killeen's trade area. A public water system began operation in 1914 and its population had increased to 1,300 residents.

Until the 1940s, Killeen remained a relatively small and isolated farm trade center. The buildup associated with World War II changed that dramatically. In 1942, Camp Hood (recommissioned as Fort Hood in 1950) was created as a military training post to meet war demands. Laborers, construction workers, contractors, soldiers, and their families moved into the area by the thousands, and Killeen became a military boomtown. The opening of Camp Hood radically altered the nature of the local economy, since the sprawling new military post covered almost half of Killeen's farming trade area.

The loss of more than 300 farms and ranches led to the demise of Killeen's cotton gins and other farm-related businesses. New businesses were started to provide services for the military camp. Killeen then suffered a recession when Camp Hood was all but abandoned after the end of World War II, but when Southern congressmen got it established in 1950 as a permanent army post, the city boomed again. Its population increased from about 1,300 in 1949 to 7,045 in 1950, and between 1950 and 1951, about 100 new commercial buildings were constructed in Killeen.

In addition to shaping local economic development after 1950, the military presence at Fort Hood also changed the city's racial, religious, and ethnic composition. No blacks lived in the city in 1950, for example. By the early 1950s, Marlboro Heights, an all-black subdivision, had been developed. In 1956, the city school board voted to integrate the local high school. The city's first resident Catholic priest, Father Francis Weber was assigned to the St. Joseph's parish in 1954, and around the same time, new Presbyterian and Episcopal churches were built.

By 1955, Killeen had an estimated 21,076 residents and 224 businesses. Troop cutbacks and transfers in the mid-1950s led to another recession in Killeen, which lasted until 1959, when various divisions were reassigned to Fort Hood. The town continued to grow through the 1960s, especially after US involvement deepened in the Vietnam War and demand for troops kept rising.

By 1970, Killeen had developed into a city of 35,507 inhabitants and had added a municipal airport, a new municipal library, and a junior college (Central Texas College). By 1980, when the census counted 49,307 people in Killeen, it was the largest city in Bell County.

After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in the late summer of 1990, the city prepared for war, sending thousands of troops from the 2nd Armored Division and the 1st Cavalry Division to the Middle East.

On October 16, 1991, George Hennard murdered 23 people and then committed suicide at the Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen.

In December 1991, Killeen High School Kangaroos, won the 5-A Division I state football championship by defeating Sugar Land Dulles 14–10 in the Astrodome. The championship was a spirit lifting moment for a community that was hard hit from the October shooting as well as economic pain of troops still in the Middle East.

By 2000, the census listed Killeen's population as 86,911, and by 2010, it was over 127,000, making it one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation.

Numerous military personnel from Killeen have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As of April 2008, more than 400 of its soldiers had died in the two wars.

On November 5, 2009, only a few miles from the site of the Luby's massacre, a gunman opened fire on people at the Fort Hood military base with a handgun, killing 13 and wounding 32. Major Nidal Hasan, a career officer and psychiatrist, sustained four gunshot wounds after a brief shootout with a civilian police officer. He suffered paralysis from the waist down. He was arrested and convicted by a court-martial, where he was sentenced to death.

In 2011, Killeen got media attention from a new television series called Surprise Homecoming, hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus, about military families who have loved ones returning home from overseas.

On April 2, 2014, a second shooting spree occurred at several locations at Fort Hood. Ivan Lopez, a career soldier, killed three people and wounded 16 others before committing suicide.

In April of 2020, then Army Private First Class Vanessa Guillén was murdered on Fort Hood by fellow soldier Aaron Robinson. He buried her dismembered body near Stillhouse Hollow Lake. Killeen Police as well as Bell County Sheriff's deputies attempted to arrest Robinson in Killeen, but he killed himself before they could do so. The murder of the Houston native gained national attention.

Geography

Killeen is located in western Bell County and is bordered to the north by Fort Hood and to the east by Harker Heights. Killeen is 16 mi west of Belton, the county seat and nearest access to Interstate 35.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 140.5 km2, of which 138.8 km2 is land and 1.7 km2, or 1.24%, is covered by water.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Killeen has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Killeen was 112 F on September 4, 2000 and September 6, 2000, while the coldest temperature recorded was -2 F on December 23–24, 1989.

|Jan record high F = 88 |Feb record high F = 100 |Mar record high F = 96 |Apr record high F = 98 |May record high F = 100 |Jun record high F = 106 |Jul record high F = 111 |Aug record high F = 108 |Sep record high F = 112 |Oct record high F = 97 |Nov record high F = 91 |Dec record high F = 84

|Jan avg record high F = 78.6 |Feb avg record high F = 82.3 |Mar avg record high F = 86.7 |Apr avg record high F = 89.8 |May avg record high F = 93.2 |Jun avg record high F = 98.4 |Jul avg record high F = 101.7 |Aug avg record high F = 102.3 |Sep avg record high F = 98.7 |Oct avg record high F = 92.5 |Nov avg record high F = 84.9 |Dec avg record high F = 79.2 |year avg record high F = 103.1

|Jan avg record low F = 21.8 |Feb avg record low F = 26.3 |Mar avg record low F = 30.1 |Apr avg record low F = 39.7 |May avg record low F = 48.9 |Jun avg record low F = 61.5 |Jul avg record low F = 67.1 |Aug avg record low F = 67.3 |Sep avg record low F = 54.2 |Oct avg record low F = 39.1 |Nov avg record low F = 28.0 |Dec avg record low F = 24.3 |year avg record low F = 19.6

|Jan record low F = 10 |Feb record low F = 2 |Mar record low F = 17 |Apr record low F = 29 |May record low F = 37 |Jun record low F = 41 |Jul record low F = 55 |Aug record low F = 56 |Sep record low F = 41 |Oct record low F = 24 |Nov record low F = 19 |Dec record low F = -2

|Jan snow depth inch = |Feb snow depth inch = |Mar snow depth inch = |Apr snow depth inch = |May snow depth inch = |Jun snow depth inch = |Jul snow depth inch = |Aug snow depth inch = |Sep snow depth inch = |Oct snow depth inch = |Nov snow depth inch = |Dec snow depth inch = |year snow depth inch =

|access-date = January 18, 2023 |access-date = January 18, 2023

Demographics

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As of the 2020 United States census, there were 153,095 people, 54,840 households, and 36,735 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,458.9 PD/sqmi. There were 53,913 housing units at an average density of 999.9 /sqmi.

Among the Hispanic population in 2010, 16,321 (12.8%) were of Mexican descent, 8,117 (6.3%) were of Puerto Rican descent, with a sizable population of Central Americans at 1,758 (1.4%).

There were 54,840 households, out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.2% under the age of 20, 38.7% from 20 to 39, 22.8% from 40 to 64, and 5.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,370, and the median income for a family was $36,674. The per capita income for the city was $20,095, compared to the national per capita of $39,997. About 11.2% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

In 2007, Coldwell Banker rated Killeen the most affordable housing market in the United States, with an average cost of $136,725.

Economy

According to the city's 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Killeen Mall serves as the city's main shopping destination, and one of two regional shopping malls in Bell County.

Government

The adoption of the City Charter in 1949 established the council-manager form of government under which the City of Killeen still operates today. The mayor is the city's chief elected officer. The mayor preside over the city's seven-member city council, which sets all policy. The city elects its mayor and three council members at large, meaning that every registered voter within the city limits may vote for all four positions. The other four council members represent specific districts of the city and are elected by voters living in their districts. Terms for the mayor and all council members are two years, with a three-consecutive-term limitation for each office. The city holds nonpartisan elections each May. The mayor and the at-large council members are elected in even-numbered years, and the four district council members are elected in odd-numbered years.

Local government

According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $187.9 million in revenues, $174.8 million in expenditures, $593.4 million in total assets, $359.3 million in total liabilities, and $94.6 million in cash and investments.

In 2022, city voters approved the decriminalization of possession of misdemeanor amounts of marijuana.

Education

Public schools

Almost all of Killeen is within the Killeen Independent School District (KISD). KISD is the largest school district between Round Rock and Dallas, encompassing Killeen, Harker Heights, Fort Hood, Nolanville, and rural west Bell County. KISD has 32 elementary schools (PK–5), 11 middle schools (6–8), 5 high schools (9–12), and 5 specialized campuses. KISD's five high schools and mascots are the Killeen High School Kangaroos (the original citywide high school), the Ellison High School Eagles, the Harker Heights High School Knights, the Shoemaker High School Grey Wolves, the Early College High School Lions, and the Chaparral High School Bobcats.

Small pieces of Killeen extend into the Salado Independent School District.

Private schools

Memorial Christian Academy (K–12) and Creek View Academy (previously Destiny School), a K–9 charter school of Honors Academy, are in Killeen.

Colleges and universities

Central Texas College's main campus is partly in Killeen and partly in Copperas Cove. It was established in 1965 to serve Bell, Burnet, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Mills, and San Saba Counties, in addition to Fort Hood. CTC offers more than 40 associate degrees and certificates of completion.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas was established on September 1, 1999, as Tarleton State University-Central Texas. The university currently offers bachelor's and master's degrees.

Areas in Killeen ISD are in the service area of Central Texas College. Areas in Salado ISD are in the service area of Temple College.

Media

Killeen's main newspaper is the Killeen Daily Herald, which has been publishing under different formats since 1890. The paper was one of four owned by the legendary Texas publisher Frank W. Mayborn, whose wife remains its editor and publisher.

The Herald also publishes the Fort Hood Herald, an independent publication in the Fort Hood area, not authorized by Fort Hood Public Affairs, and the Cove Herald, a weekly paper for the residents of Copperas Cove.

The official paper of Fort Hood is The Fort Hood Sentinel, an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army that is editorially independent of the U.S. government and military.

Television stations include KAKW (Univision O&O), KCEN (NBC), KNCT (The CW), KWTX (CBS/Telemundo), KWKT (Fox), KXXV (ABC), and KAMU (PBS).

Killeen is served by 2 AM radio stations: KTEM and KTON; and 17 FM stations: KBDE, KIIZ, KJHV, KLFX, KLTD, KMYB, KNCT, KOOC, KOOV, KRGN, KRYH, KSSM, KUSJ, KVBM, KVLT, KWTX, and WACO.

NOAA Weather Radio station WXK35 broadcasts weather and hazard information.

Spectrum and Grande Communications provide cable service and DirecTV and Dish Network provide satellite service.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Killeen is served by a small regional airfield known as Skylark Field (ILE) and the larger Killeen Regional Airport (GRK), the latter with commercial passenger flights.

The Hill Country Transit District (The HOP) operates a public bus transit system within the city with eight routes including connections to Temple, Copperas Cove, and Harker Heights. The HOP buses are easily identified by their teal and purple exteriors. The HOP recently purchased new buses with the new color green. In the metro area's partner city, Temple, there is Amtrak inter-city passenger train service on the Texas Eagle.

Major highways that run through Killeen are Interstate 14/U.S. Highway 190 (Central Texas Expressway or CenTex), Business Loop 190 (Veterans Memorial Boulevard), State Highway 195, and Spur 172 (leading into Fort Hood main gate). Interstate 35 is accessible in Belton, 16 mi east of the center of Killeen.

Public safety

The city of Killeen is protected by two municipal civil service departments: the Killeen Police Department and the Killeen Fire Department.

Killeen Police Department

The Killeen Police Department has 355 members in its organization with 265 allotted sworn personnel strength. It is responsible for all police functions in Killeen, Texas, covering about 55.235 square miles.

Police Chief Pedro "Pete" Lopez leads the department. Lopez was sworn in on June 5, 2023.

Killeen Fire Department

The Killeen Fire Department is separated into four separate divisions; Operations, Fire Prevention, Support, and Emergency Management. Currently, the department operates by three 24-hour shifts and provides emergency services from 8 staffed fire stations strategically placed throughout the city. Over two hundred personnel staff 6 Engine Companies, 2 Ladder Companies, 2 Rescue Companies, and 8 Ambulances as well as Technical Rescue and specialty to include Water Rescue, High-Angle Rescue, Wildland Team and Hazardous Materials Team. In addition to the line companies, each shift is staffed with two Battalion Chiefs and two EMS Captains who are supported by three Deputy Chiefs, an Assistant Chief, and Fire Chief.

In 2009, KFD built Station 8 and relocated Fire Station #1 to a new facility on Westcliff Road to provide improved responses in the southeast and northeast areas of the city respectively. With continued growth and expansion, Fire Station #9 was completed in 2017 and provides service the southwest area of town.

Crime

In 2017 Killeen was ranked the 9th most dangerous city in Texas based on crime data. The city's violent crime rate of 766.2 in 2017 was more than double the national rate of 382.9

The number of murders rose from 10 in 2014 to 17 in 2015, an increase of 70%. The number of rapes increased from 114 to 189, an almost 66% increase from the prior year. There were 16 homicides in 2016. There were 22 homicides in Killeen in 2017, the deadliest year on record since 1991.

In 2008, there were 885 violent crimes and 4,757 non-violent crimes reported in the city of Killeen as part of the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) Program. Violent crimes are the aggregation of the UCR Part 1 crimes of murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Non-violent crimes are the aggregation of the crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft.

Killeen's 2008 UCR Part 1 crimes break down as follows:

Rates are crimes per 100,000 population. The Killeen rates are calculated using the estimated 2008 population figure of 115,906 as provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Notable people

• Brad Buckley, member of the Texas House of Representatives for House District 54
• David Cobb, former NFL running back for the Tennessee Titans
• Lisa Kristine Cummins, American dentist and fashion model
• Mike Dimes, rapper
• Adam Earnheardt, academic and author
• Ta'Quon Graham, NFL player
• Robert Manning Gray, Doolittle Raider
• Michael Hancock, mayor of Denver, Colorado
• Don Hardeman, football running back
• Tommie Harris, football defensive tackle
• Nidal Hasan, US army officer who was responsible for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting
• Othello Henderson, football defensive tackle
• Oveta Culp Hobby, first Secretary of U.S. Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare
• Cory Jefferson, basketball player
• Shane Kimbrough, NASA astronaut
• Royce O'Neale, NBA player
• Mike Stulce, shot putter
• Carl Eugene Watts, serial killer

Twin towns – sister cities

Osan, South Korea, has been Killeen's Sister City since 1995.

Killeen is also twinned with San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Notes

References

Other sources

• Bell County Historical Commission. Story of Bell County, Texas 2 vols. Austin: Eakin Press, 1988.
• Duncan Gra'Delle, Killeen: Tale of Two Cities, 1882–1982. Killeen, Texas: 1984.

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