Region: Prairies and Lakes
On the edge of 217,000-acre Fort Hood, Killeen was named for a civil engineer
of the Santa Fe Railroad, which was built across the county in 1882. It is the
largest city in Bell County and home to Texas A&M Central Texas/Tarleton
State University and Central Texas College.
Killeen's rich cultural diversity offers visitors many dining, shopping and
entertainment options, from rodeos and stock-car racing to the culture of the
stage. Community theater productions are held throughout the year at the Center
for the Arts, sponsored by Vive Les Arts Societe.
The Killeen Area Heritage Association sponsors historic exhibits at the
Killeen City Hall, housed in the old Killeen High School, Avenue D at College
Street. The city offices are open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri. A 24-hour storefront
exhibit at the Municipal Courts building, 200 E. Avenue D, demonstrates family
life in the community before the coming of the Army in 1942. The association
also offers tours of the former Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, 400 S. Gray
St., which features original handmade furnishings and artifacts. 254/699-5916,
254/634-7750.