History

Looking Back
Belton was established in 1850 as the county seat for the new Bell County. Within 10 years, businesses, schools and churches were well-established, but the Civil War drained Belton and Bell County of over a thousand men.

At the close of the Civil War, Belton worked to rebuild its economy, and the Chisholm Trail was vital to the city’s growth. Belton provided an important stop on the trail that ran from South Texas to Abilene, Kansas. The Chisholm Trail saw as many as 1,000 head of cattle at a stretch, and a building boom hit the Belton area.

Belton built modern water and phone systems, and a private college was built (now the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor). The Great Depression provided another setback, but World War II and the arrival of Fort Hood brought economic relief and a surge of growth that continues today.

Today, tours of the historic downtown district are available, and the Bell County Museum serves the community as a vital resource for the collection, interpretation and preservation of the historical heritage of the Bell County area. The museum is housed in the beautifully restored Carnegie Library Building at 210 N. Main Street in Belton’s National Historic District. For more information, call 254-933-5243.