College Hill, Salado

Killeen

Located to Fort Hood’s east and south, Killeen is the largest city in Bell County and the 19th most populous in Texas. It owes its fortunes to Fort Hood, the Army’s largest post. Killeen’s rolling landscape and dense forests provide the ideal backdrop for golf, and the three public courses near town make full use of the scenic beauty. Stonetree Golf Course in Killeen, the Courses at Clear Creek in Fort Hood, and the Hills of Cove Golf Course in nearby Copperas Cove combine to offer 63 holes of top-shelf golf, all within a 15-mile radius. For some water-based fun, head to either Lake Belton or Stillhouse Hollow Lake, both of which offer fantastic venues for swimming, fishing, boating, and camping. Explore the National Mounted Warfare Museum at Fort Hood, the stars at the Mayborn Science Theater planetarium, catch a play or musical at the Vive Les Arts Theater or watch top competitors at the annual Rodeo Killeen. For the most part, Killeen is a mix of young families and military retirees. Housing is considered among the area’s most affordable. Higher education opportunities abound through Central Texas College and Texas A&M Central Texas. Killeen proudly called Elvis Presley a resident while he was stationed at Fort Hood.

Copperas Cove

Known as the City of Five Hills, Copperas Cove is nestled on the west side of Fort Hood in Coryell County’s southern tip. It has grown across county lines into Lampasas County. The city has one of the lowest crime rates in Central Texas and a one high school district that has been recognized by the Texas Education Agency for excellence in education. Cove residents are considered local for attendance at Central Texas College and Texas A&M University. Copperas Cove calls itself “A City Built For Family Living.” It is the largest city in Coryell County and owes its growth and fortunes to Fort Hood. Its origins are traced to the establishment of a post office and a feeder route for the Chisholm Trail in 1879, along with the expansion of the Santa Fe Railway in 1882. The city offers an 18-hole golf course, seven parks, two swimming pools, a library, and civic center. Top annual attractions include Rabbit Fest, Krist Kindl Markt, Food Truck Festival and the HEB Summer Run to Fun.

Lampasas

Located at the intersection of Hwy 183 and Hwy 190, the city is about 62 miles northwest of Austin and 20 miles west of Fort Hood. It was first settled by the Comanche, Apache and Tonkawa tribes. Western settlers followed in the 19th century. First called Burleson, the name was changed to Lampasas Springs after the discovery of several mineral springs in the city. With the arrival of the railroad, lavish spas and resorts were built around the healing springs. Vestiges of the former grandeur still remain in the historic downtown and Hancock Springs Park. Today, the rural county seat is considered a great base for exploring the area’s state parks, wineries. Still served today is Elvis Presley’s favorite strawberry shake at Storm’s Drive-In. The world’s largest spur, a 35’ high by 20’ wide steel sculpture is just outside Hancock Park.

McGregor

McGregor is home to the SpaceX Rocket and Test Facility. It spans McLennan and Coryell Counties. First known as McGregor Springs, it is an incorporated town 16 miles southwest of Waco on U.S. Hwy 84. It was established in 1882 at the intersection of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe and the Texas and St. Louis railways. The school district is considered excellent and the town is known for being a quiet place to live. However, due to SpaceX and its small size, there is a housing shortage. Typical homes cost between $150-$200,000. The town gained national attention with the featured rehabilitation of the Magnolia House on HGTV’s Fixer Upper Show. Today’s daytrippers and residents can enjoy The Cedar Chest Too Antique Mall, the Cottonbelt Trail, Mother Neff State Park and Blue Hills Ranch. Favored restaurants include CuppieCakes and the Coffee Shop Café.

Crawford

The town was incorporated on August 12, 1897. It is best known as the home of former US President George W. Bush. He currently resides part-time at the Prairie Chapel Ranch on Crawford’s outskirts. The town is in western McLennan County, and is part of the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the town had 887 residents. The median home cost in Crawford is $408,200. The town owes its existence to the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Rail- road that connected Temple to Fort Worth in 1881. The town has remained an agricultural center and residents typically go to Waco for entertainment, higher education and employment.

Waco

Waco was founded as an outpost for the Texas Rangers and is the birthplace of Dr. Pepper and home of Baylor University. Spanning the Brazos River, Waco’s many attractions include Cameron Park Zoo, which is home to lions, otters and meerkats. The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum traces the history of the state law enforcement agency and displays vintage badges and weapons. The Dr. Pepper Museum pays homage to the famed, locally invented soft drink. The Waco Mammoth National Monument is a fossil site home to the bones of Columbian mammoths. The city was placed on the national map by HGTV’s Fixer Upper Show. The stars, Chip and Joanna Gaines continued to call Waco home, and their featured enterprises, Magnolia Market and the Silos, plus the Magnolia Table restaurant continue to be popular tourist attractions. Despite the influx of residents since the show, Waco is still considered an affordable housing area, that includes luxury enclaves along the river and lake shores. The city offers year-round outdoor recreational activities, a wide selection of schools and churches, great shopping and dining options, and boasts a central location along Interstate-35 in the Heart of Texas that can't be beat.

Jarrell

The town was founded in 1909 by the real estate developer O.D. Jarrell. It is the last stop in Williamson County when traveling north on Interstate 35. In its early years, the town was prosperous, thanks in no small part to the railroads that passed through. Eventually the railroads closed, and the cotton industry that was important to the town’s economy also took an enormous beating in the 1920s and 1930s. The town had shrunk almost to the point of almost disappearing when it was literally wiped off the map by a powerful tornado in 1997. Since then, it has come roaring back as an affordable commuter hub for the Austin metro and for Fort Hood’s military looking for closer access to the metro’s employment hub. Housing largely is production builds and confined to the east side of Interstate 35. Most residents travel north to Salado for dining or south to Georgetown for grocery shopping and entertainment.

Florence

Located about 13 miles west from Georgetown and 40 miles north of Austin in northwestern Williamson County along Highway 195, Florence is largely rural and underdeveloped, with one notable exception the Vineyards of Florence. Inspired by the owner’s trip to Tuscany, the location now is a 600-acre unique resort and wedding venue dedicated to growing and serving fine wines. A luxury home development is underway with more than 1,000 homes planned that will range in size from 2,500-6,200 square feet, with expected pricing from $800,000 to $3 million.