TEXAS ~ It's like a Whole Other Country! 

The state of Texas is divided into seven geographical regions, as specified by the Texas Department of Transportation.  

Since Texas is huge it has many diverse physical and cultural environments ranging from the Old West heritage of the Texas Panhandle Plains to the Southern Hospitality of the Texas Piney Woods. From the mountains and abundant wildlife of the Texas Big Bend Country, to some of the finest shopping and dining experiences of the Texas Prairies and Lakes. From the cultural treasures of the South Texas Plains to the historic charm and beauty of the Texas Hill Country and some of the best beaches in the country along the Texas Gulf Coast.  

"Texas" comes from the Hasinai Indian word "Tejas" which means friends or allies.  

State Facts:  

Land Area - 261,914 square miles
Highest Point - Guadalupe Peak - 8,749 ft wk-5
Population - 19,975,700
Largest City - Houston
Flag - Known as the Lone Star Flag
Motto - Friendship
Nickname - The Lone Star State
Bird - Mockingbird
Song - "Texas, Our Texas" by William J. Marsh
Flower - Bluebonnet
Fish - Guadalupe Bass
Dish - Chili
Fruit - Texas Red Grapefruit
Tree - Pecan
Seashell - lighting whelk, found only on the Gulf Coast
Insect - Monarch Butterfly
Mammal - Texas Longhorn  

For more information on Texas:  

Welcome to Fort Hood, Texas ~ "Largest Military Installation in the Free World"  

Over the past several years with the numerous base closings and military drawdowns, Fort Hood has become the largest active duty armored post in the United States Armed Forces. Fort Hood is located midway between Waco and Austin and just west of the city of Killeen. Nestled in the beautiful hill and lake country of Central Texas and covering 340 square miles, Fort Hood has more than 156,000 acres of maneuver training area and state-of-the-art range facilities where practically every piece of weaponry in the Army's inventory can be fired.  

Fort Hood was named for the famous Confederate General John Bell Hood, an out-standing leader who gained recognition during the Civil War as the commander of Hood's Texas Brigade. Fort Hood was established in 1942 and became a permanent post in 1950.  

Fort Hood is the largest single location employer in the state of Texas with 45,000 soldiers and more than 6,000 civilians working on the post. Fort Hood pumps $367 million quarterly into the community in military and civilian pay, contracts and local purchases. Fort Hood has a direct financial impact of $1.8 billion on the local area with the total economic impact reaching $3.2 billion.  

Inside the gates of Fort Hood is a self-sufficient city. The post offers military families a number of activities including: bowling alleys, numerous movie theaters, service/filling stations, concession stores and fast food restaurants. Fort Hood also offers two Post Exchange Stores. It serves the needs of its soldiers and their families. In addition to the two Post Exchange stores, the post also operates two of the largest commissaries in the Army, which stock approximately 14,000 line items and have 25 checkout lanes serving approximately 110,000 customers.  

To learn more about the "Largest Military Installation in the Free World" visit the following museums: 

1st Cavalry Division Museum ~ 254.287.3626 This museum tells the story of the 1st Cavalry Division, beginning with the organization of the division in 1921.  

4th Infantry Division Museum ~ 254.287.8811 This museum displays the proud history of this division through all of it great battles.  

Find Active Duty Personnel all over the World ~ World Wide Locator: 703.325.3732 ~ DSN 221.3732  

Fort Hood Operator: 254.287.1110 ~ DSN 737.1110
Locate A Fort Hood Soldier: 254.287.2137 ~ DSN 737.2137
Locate A Civilian: 254.288.2023 ~ DSN 738.2023  

Killeen, Texas ~ The "City Without Limits" 

The first train streamed into town on May 15, 1882, giving birth to the city of Killeen. The railroad positioned Killeen as the central shipping point for the surrounding agricultural area. Throughout the late 1800's, up to 1942, Killeen remained a small but bustling rural community of less than 2,000 residents.  

As the United States geared up to enter World War II, Camp Hood was established as a temporary military training facility. The coming of Camp Hood in 1942, like the original train, revolutionized the area. Connected to U.S. Highway 190 by a five lane access road, the business park offers rail access via the Santa Fe Railway; Interstate 35 is just 17 miles away.  

In 1950 Killeen's future was secured when Congress designated the camp as Fort Hood a permanent installation. It has directly influenced Killeen's development. The relationship that Fort Hood and the cities of Copperas Cove, Killeen and Harker Heights enjoy is unique to any other community in the nation. All four entities strive to work jointly for their mutual growth and development.  

To say "Business is Booming" in the Greater Killeen area may be an understatement. The National Planning Association listed the Killeen-Temple Metropolitan Statistical Area to be the leading Texas MSA in labor force growth for the 1980-1990 period. With a population of 68,000 and a trade area of over 245,000, Killeen is the fastest growing area in Texas and the fifth fastest in the nation to date.  

From shopping to the great outdoors, Killeen has something for everyone! Both the young and the young-at-heart can enjoy any one of our lakes, golf courses or stay inside and shop the day away. Whatever your preference, "Killeen's Got You Covered"!  

Harker Heights, Texas ~ The Bright Star of Texas- It's Right in the Middle of Where You Want to Be!  

This lovely community has grown and prospered dramatically from its humble beginnings as a pig farm in the late 1950's. Original developers, P.R. Cox and Harley Kern, could not have envisioned the remarkable population growth from 1,000 in 1960 to the current population of 20,000+.  

Having discovered that land development was far more prosperous than raising pigs, Cox and Kern began actively developing the 400 acres they owned in 1957. The area residents soon needed services such as garbage collection and police protection, which required municipal incorporation. The partners initiated the incorporation process but Harley Kern died before it was accomplished. Out of respect for his partner, Cox named the city Harker Heights-"Harker" being an acronym from "Harley Kern".  

Harker Heights is proud of its reputation of having some of the most prestigious homes in the area. Golf course views are only part of the overall appeal, which adds to our quality of life.  

Wide, winding streets, large shade trees and beautifully landscaped, well-manicured lawns enhance the neighborhoods.  

One of the gateways to the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Harker Heights' emergence as a business and industrial center has brought about outstanding growth. Harker Heights' 1999 population is estimated at 20,000+. It is the 2nd largest growing area in Central Texas.  

Copperas Cove, Texas ~ Head for the Hills 

Walk into Ogletree Gap valley about the time the sun is setting. There might be a slight wind wandering through the oak tree groves and rustling the tall grasses. In a shadowed ravine two deer may be following a well-worn path and now pause, their luminous eyes alert to an unknown presence. In this setting, with the dark-green hills silhouetted against the flamboyant sky and evening quiet coming, it's easy to imagine how it was over a hundred years ago when the basin was filled with cattle and the cowboys were riding herd.  

Walk into the white-stone building that sits on a slight rise of hill. It is now a museum that is open to the public on certain days. It was built in 1878 by Marsden Ogletree and served as stagecoach stop, store, ranch headquarters and post office. If you listen you can almost hear the distant thunder of the horses' hoofs pounding the caliche soil or wagon wheels grinding over the limestone rocks. Perhaps the joyful "yippee!" of settlers heading west, can be heard.  

Ogletree Gap valley, about two miles west of town, is the original town site of Copperas Cove. The natural basin is protected by the five surrounding hills and was used primarily as a stopover for cattle drives heading east toward the Chisolm Trail. The Chisolm Trail roughly paralleled what is now Interstate 35.  

Originally the valley and surrounding hills were inhabited by the Tonkawa Indians. In certain areas the rock fences built by the Indians to contain their cattle can still be found.  

By the 1840's the first white settlers began arriving. At that time a spring ran through the valley that had a copperas flavor. The story goes that a man drank from the spring and exclaimed, "Egads! It's copperas!" From this and the fact that the surrounding hills forming a natural cove, the community was named Copperas Cove.  

By the time Marsden Ogletree built his stagecoach stop there were quite a few residents in the area. When a post office application was approved in 1879, it was only natural that the white-stone building became the first post office and Marsden Ogletree the first postmaster.  

The center of town shifted to its present location with the coming of the Santa Fe Railway. The rails were laid outside the northwestern perimeter of five hills where the terrain was more suitable. Copperas Cove became a shipping point for cattle and cotton.  

The town remained a small community until construction began at Camp Hood in 1942. The military added it own flavoring as people from all over the world came and decided to stay. Today the population is over 25,000.  

A rich western heritage remains, enriched by the influx of many cultures. From cowboys who gathered round their campfires in Ogletree Gap valley to pioneer women who could shoot a rifle as well as plow a straight furrow, to the dashing young men who brought their brides to Camp Hood, a vibrant tapestry of life and events was created. It is history that can be viewed with pride.  

Sites of interest: 

Independent School Districts:  

Colleges:  

Request our Free Killeen, Fort Hood, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Killeen, Fort Hood, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove, Texas area. Don't move here without it! Remember: we'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and we will send it right out... 

It's our job to know EVERYTHING about Killeen, Fort Hood, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove! Ask us any question. Or request a FREE information package. There's no obligation, and we promise to get back to you quickly...