Get to know Killeen, TX

The city of Killeen is located next to Fort Hood.  It got its start when the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railway extended into the area in 1881.  The railway set up a town and named it after the assistant general manager of the railroad, Frank P. Killeen.  It began to grow and became an important cotton, wool, and grain shipping point.  It was a relatively small and served as an isolated farm trade center until Camp Hood was created in 1942.  Later renamed Fort Hood, the military post altered the economy of the area, effectively ending the city’s farming business.  Following the end of World War II, a recession set in as Camp Hood was abandoned.  When Fort Hood was commissioned in 1950 as a permanent army post, the city began to boom.  The city economy is heavily dependent on the military presence, and has suffered recessions whenever there is a decrease in troops.  Fort Hood is the main employer in Killeen, followed by the Killeen Independent School District and Central Texas College.  Notable residents have included actresses Tia and Tamera Mowry, as well as Elvis Presley, who was stationed at Fort Hood for a time.

Quick Facts

Population: 134,030

Median Household Income: $48,283

Median Property Value: $116,400