Our Communities

Salado

Salado is a beautiful and affluent village at the southern point of Bell County. The small, historic community is off Interstate 35. It is a popular bed and breakfast destination, with a Main Street full of boutiquestyle antique, art and specialty shops. South Main Street has become an evening entertainment draw, with craft wine and brewery venues and fine dining opportunities. Salado’s original neighborhood wraps around Salado Creek and the Mill Creek Golf & Country Club. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, this 18hole championship course crisscrosses the creek with more than 6,500 yards of greens and fairways. Mill Creek custom homes, from small to mansion, border the privately owned course. Main Street draws regional and international overnight guests. Historic homes accommodate the guests and quaint mom & pop specialty shops. A craft brewery and several fine dining options and a popular barbecue/live music venue provide after-hours entertainment. The annual Christmas Stroll, held the first two weekends in December, is a popular event for locals and tourists.

Georgetown

The Williamson County seat is home to Southwestern University: A 175-year-old major liberal arts campus that offers state-of-the-art research labs and athletic areas in addition to its liberal arts heritage. Buildings in its Downtown Historic District include the Victorian-era Old Williamson County Jail and the 1911 Courthouse. The Williamson Museum explores local history. East, Blue Hole Park features a lagoon along the San Gabriel River. To the south, Inner Space Cavern is a vast cave with hundreds of stalactites. Georgetown, has an abundance of one-acre, restricted neighborhoods. Most are just outside the city limits, yet they feature many of the creature comforts that growing families want in more traditional neighborhoods. Many have common areas and hiking trails, as well as easy access to Lake Georgetown and its trail system. Some home sites also have lake or panoramic views of the Hill Country. These neighborhoods primarily exist on the west side of town, yet many are less than 10 minutes from downtown Georgetown and Interstate 35.

Belton

Nestled between the county’s two major lakes, Bell County’s seat has a mix of small town charm and big city convenience. Belton is midway off Interstate 35 between Austin and Waco and is ideal for commutes to Temple, the Austin metro and west to Killeen-Fort Hood. Belton is attracting residents daily thanks to its outstanding schools, parks and trails, Lake Belton, Stillhouse Hollow Lake and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Lake Belton homes take in stunning views along this Army Corps of Engineers reservoir that is fed by the Leon River. Activities include fishing, boating, hiking, parks, lakeside dining and a marina. Stillhouse Hollow Lake dams the Lampasas River, with stunning views from escarpment homes to the south of the city. Activities include fishing, boating, hiking, parks and a marina. The Bell County Courthouse square features antique and boutique shopping that includes stores dating to 1869, the Bell County Museum and a host of entertainment attractions.

Temple

Temple was founded as a railroad town in 1881 by the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad. It was incorporated in 1882. The town was named after a Santa Fe Railroad official, Bernard Moore Temple. Nestled on Lake Belton’s west shore, Temple now thrives from a complex economy, with both goods distribution and its reputation as a regional medical center leading the way. The city offers a mix of homes, from affordable starter housing to stately mansions, particularly in its historic downtown neighborhood. Temple has made an investment in revitalizing the downtown area, which houses the Santa Fe Railroad Museum and visitors center. Destination dining includes Pignetti’s, Cheeves Bros Steak House and O’Briens, all with valet parking. The downtown multi-level luxury shopping experience, “The Hub,” features shops offering apparel, accessories, home décor, toys, gifts and more. Upstairs showcases artists, antiques, a photography studio, plus two event venues.

Harker Heights

Located on the western shores of Stillhouse Hollow Lake in west Bell County, Harker Heights has a population of more than 31,600. The city offers neighborhoods that wind through hills and valleys, affording stunning views. Long a bedroom community for Fort Hood’s upper ranks, the city offers some of the best shopping and dining on Bell’s west side. Residents have access to numerous recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. Among the local parks and playgrounds are the Carl Levin City Park, Purser Family Park, Kern Park, Skipcha Park, Cardinal Greenspace, Summit Soccer Complex, Booker Greenspace, and Sprint Park. Dana Peak and Stillhouse Hollow Lake provide facilities for fishing, hiking, camping, bike trails, hunting, kayaking, and swimming. Golf lovers can visit the Courses of Clear Creek and Stonetree Golf Course at nearby Fort Hood and Killeen.

Nolanville

Located just off Interstate-14, Nolanville was named after Irish immigrant Philip Nolan, who arrived in the area in the late 1700s. He attempted to make a trading expedition from Louisiana to Texas, but wound up penniless after his goods were confiscated. He spent the next two years living with Native Americans, who launched his wild horse business. Nolan eventually was killed by the Spanish, but his legacy lives on in the small community of 5,900 residents. Today, Nolanville is best known for its luxury gated community Bella Charca, located just outside neighboring Harker Heights. Nolanville residents tend to have ties to Fort Hood and typically shop in nearby Harker Heights. The city offers easy access to nearby Lake Belton on its north side via Farm to Market 439/Lake Road and Stillhouse Hollow Lake to its south with several options off Interstate-14.