Killeen Area GuideKilleen is booming, businesses are prospering and recreation is abundant! Located in one of the fastest growing economic corridors in the country Killeen is only an hour’s drive to Austin. Founded over 100 years ago in 1882, by the Santa Fe Railroad to serve as a shipping station for cotton and cattle, Killeen has thrived, along with Fort Hood.
With its population rising, plentiful opportunities for business and career, Killeen offers a lot for the person who’s ready to start their career, settle down and start a family or enjoy those retirement years. Come visit, enjoy our hometown flavor, our friendly people and our beautiful scenery! To learn more about Killeen, visit: http://www.killeen-cvb.com/ History Killeen was founded in 1881 when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway extended its tracks through central Texas, buying 360 acres a few miles southwest of a small farming community known as Palo Alto. Named after Frank Killeen, by the next year, the town included a railroad depot, a saloon, several stores and a school. Outlying residents in smaller communities moved to Killeen and by 1884, the town had begun to grow, with more stores, a blacksmith other amenities towns of the day had. Around 1905, local politicians and businessmen decided that Killeen needed to build bridges over Cowhouse Creek and other streams, hoping to double Killen’s trade area. Until the 1940’s Killeen was a relatively small, isolated farm trade center, but its history was changed forever when Camp Hood (later renamed Fort Hood) was established. Created as a training post for the Second World War, the construction brought a boom to the town, altering forever the face of Killeen. By 1955, Killeen’s numbers had grown to over 20,000 with over 200 businesses and although the troop cutbacks and transfers led to a recession, by 1959, it was on the move again and can even claim that Elvis was stationed there for a bit. By 2000, the official census placed the population at almost 89,000, and still growing. Today, it’sone of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Attractions & Activities Whether you want to take in 9 holes of golf, or enjoy a tour through the Fourth Infantry Division Museum, Killeen welcomes you to bring the golf clubs or your walking shoes! For a complete listing of things to do in Killeen, visit: Killeen Attractions Parks & Recreation Events Calendar
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