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Copperas Cove Area Guide

Copperas Cove is a flourishing city in central Texas that offers a pleasant quality of life for all of its citizens. Copperas Cove provides award winning schools, elegant homes, a variety of parks and activities, as well as a wide array of wildlife. Proud of its heritage, Copperas Cove is a picturesque city with a bright future. To discover more about this fantastic city, please continue reading below or visit Copperas Cove’s official website. http://copperascove.com/

History

The area that would eventually become Copperas Cove was originally inhabited by the Tonkawa and Comanche Native Americans. The area was later inhabited by the Spanish and, in 1825, Mexico provided Stephen F. Austin with a land grant encompassing a large area including present-day Copperas Cove. By the 1830s, the first white settlers moved to the area. The area did not become a substantial settlement until the 1870s with the development of the feeder route of the Chisholm Trail for cattle trade.

In 1878 residents applied for a post office under the name "Cove", so chosen for the site's sheltered location. However "Cove" was already taken by a nearby community, so the residents amended the name to "Coperas Cove" due to the mineral taste of nearby spring water. The name was changed to “Copperas Cove” in 1901. The first post office was established in March 1879 and the original building still exists today and is the site of the Ogletree Gap Heritage Festival.

In 1882 the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railway was expanded into the region and built a depot. The depot at Copperas Cove acted as a shipping point for farmers and ranches in the area between Cowhouse Creek and the Lampasas River. Soon a number of businesses opened to serve residents including a steam gristmill-cotton gin, three hotels, a barber shop, and an opera house. By 1900 there were 475 residents and it was decided to create a school district. In 1913 the first mayor was elected. The town continued to prosper over the coming years, depending largely on local agriculture, of which cotton played a dominant role. Copperas Cove reached a peak population of 600 in 1929, but entered a state of decline with the onset of the Great Depression. During the 1930s the local bank failed, several businesses closed, and many people left to look for work in other areas. By 1940 only 356 people remained.

In 1942 Camp Hood was built next to Copperas Cove giving the area new life. In 1950, Camp Hood was upgraded to Fort Hood and Copperas Cove was now home to over 1,000 residents. By 1960 Copperas Cove was home to over 5,000 people and the population continued to grow.

Attractions & Activities

Mayborn Planetarium & Space Theater
The Mayborn Planetarium and Space Theatre offers visitors the chance to take an imaginary journey through space and time. Discover the known universe through the help of the Minolta star projector in the 60-foot Planetarium done and listen to a live guided tour of the current sky. The Mayborn Planetarium and Space Theatre also offers state-of-the-art Laser Light Shows with 3D graphics, pure laser-generated colors, and 15 thousand watts of digitally reproduced sound. Also offered are Large Format Films presented on a dome-shaped screen, more than twice the size of a traditional movie screen. For more information on the Mayborn Planetarium and Space Theater, please visit their official website at: http://www.starsatnight.org

The Allin House
The Allin House is one Copperas Cove historic site that you don’t want to miss. Built by Copperas Cove’s first mayor, Jouett Allin, and his wife in 1913, the Allin House now acts as a meeting spot for weddings, receptions, and showers. The land that the Allin House is built on was provided by Emma Allin’s mother and was among the most prominent homes in Copperas Cove. The Allin House was later sold in 1953 and then again in 1986. Since that time, the Allin House has been restored and was designated as a Texas Historical Landmark in 1998. The Allin House is located at 401 N. Main in Copperas Cove.

Old Downtown Copperas Cove
Old Downtown Copperas Cove is the historic downtown area of Copperas Cove that has existed since the late 1880s. The Old Downtown Copperas Cove is made up of several city blocks that became the center of business with the arrival of the railroad. You can still visit many of the original buildings today.

For a more complete list of attractions and activities found in Copperas Cove, please visit: http://copperascove.com/visit/places_of_interest.aspx

Parks & Recreation

The Copperas Cove Parks and Recreation Department provides bountiful recreational opportunities and magnificent parks for the residents of Copperas Cove. The Copperas Cove Parks and Recreation Department runs an eclectic range of activities from tee-ball to water aerobics. The Department sponsors a number of events and activities throughout the year including the NFL Punt, Pass, and Kick contest, a major league soccer camp, a summer track team, a swim team, and softball league play for adults, just to name a few.

Copperas Cove is home to over 25 bicycle/running routes ranging from 10 miles to 100 miles. Due to these routes, Copperas Cove is home to numerous cyclists and runners who train for bicycle and foot races on the well-maintained country roads.

Copperas Cove City Park
City Park is located west of the downtown area and is home to six ball fields, soccer fields, a sand volleyball court, a pool, two basketball courts, a recreational vehicle park with full hook-ups, several picnic areas, and a fishing pond.

Copperas Cove Youth Recreation Council
The Copperas Cove Youth Recreation Council is maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department. The Council runs the baseball, softball, and tee ball programs for youths between the ages of four and eighteen.

For this and more information on the Copperas Cove Parks and Recreation Department, please visit their official website by clicking here: http://copperascove.com/visit/recreation_and_entertainment.aspx

Events Calendar

Copperas Cove is home to a variety of fantastic events throughout the year. With such a wide variety of events to choose from, there’s something for every age and interest type. Check out the Copperas Cove official event website at: http://copperascove.com/calendar.aspx