OUR GOOD NEIGHBORS AND PARTNERS
Fort Hood is blessed with great neighboring communities and many organizations which serve our Soldiers and Families.

Some of the community initiatives and partnerships include:
Adopt-a-Unit Program
The Fort Hood-Central Texas Chapter of the Association of the United States Army instituted the program to align Fort Hood units with communities and civic organizations.

Dell's "Work from Home" initiative
Local communities, the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance, chambers of commerce and Workforce Centers, working with Dell, Inc. established this initiative which hires Fort Hood-based Family members to work virtually as Dell Customer Care agents.

Educational Outreach
Fort Hood conducts an outreach program to schools in districts across Central Texas. Soldiers and civilians make presentations and provide displays to school classes ranging from kindergarten to high school on safety and wildlife.

Jobs-4-Military Families Program
The Central Texas Workforce Centers provide services for military spouses who gave up employment at a previous duty station to move to Fort Hood.

KISB Counselor Support
Schools have significantly increased the number of counselors available to assist children of Soldiers with issues surrounding repetitive deployments.

Living in the New Normal Initiative
The six Central Texas communities that abut Fort Hood piloted the LINN initiative to foster home front support for children experiencing grief, trauma or loss as the result of death or serious injury to a Soldier-parent or the stresses of deployment.

Texas Dept. of Transportation
$20.5 million for transportation upgrades on Fort Hood to ease traffic congestion.

Texas House Bill 125
Established free in-state tuition for 100 percent disabled Texas Soldiers and children of Soldiers who become 100 percent disabled as a result of their service.

Texas House Bill 261
Grants in-state tuition rates for the Families of Soldiers assigned here.

Texas Environmental Partnership
Fort Hood takes part in the partnership with DoD, EPA and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality to enhance mission readiness and promote environmental stewardship.

Threat Fusion Cell
Fort Hood hosts a local conference that includes organizations such as Texas Dept. of Public Safety and the FBI to exchange intelligence, sustain good communications and improve the protection and safety of the post.

Wounded Warrior Program
AUSA instituted this dynamic program, through which community leaders visit Brooke Army Medical Center.

NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND NEARBY CITIES
Belton
Founded in the 1850s as the county seat for Bell County, Belton boasts a downtown historic district, many fine Victorian era homes and over 160 historical markers in the city and surrounding areas.

The rolling plains and wooded hills provide the area with a touch of serenity, while the two nearby lakes offer plenty of recreation opportunities.

Location and Transportation
Dissected by Interstate 35, Belton is near the geographic center of Texas—approximately 135 miles south of Dallas/Fort Worth and 55 miles north of Austin.  This also places Belton in the center of the state's rapidly growing high-tech corridor.

More than 9.4 million people live within a 180- mile radius of Belton.  This radius encompasses 55 percent of Texas, and includes Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and much of Houston.

Business
Many businesses and industries have found Belton's central location to be conductive to their companies' growth.

The area's moderate climate, abundance of water, central location and well-educated work force also contributes to the thriving business community.

There are four industrial parks located in Belton that are suitable for manufacturing and/or distribution.

Belton's industrial parks offer spaces from five to 200 acres with utilities and easy access to transportation.  The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and Belton's two major highways—Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 190—provide easy access to the rest of the state.

Fort Hood, 18 miles west of Belton, also plays a vital role in the area's economy. One of the largest military bases in the world, Fort Hood is the Army's premier installation to train and deploy heavy forces.

Education
The Belton Independent School District (BISD) includes six elementary schools (k-4), one primary academy (pre-k, 2-3), two intermediate schools (5-6), a junior high (7-8) and two high schools (9-12). BISD has set standards above the state's requirements, and the Texas Education Agency has recognized Belton High School as one of the state's top schools. Belton also offers a wealth of higher education opportunities.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, the oldest institution of higher learning offering continuous education in Texas, is located within Belton.  The University offers nearly 40 bachelor majors and four graduate degrees (Masters of Art, Business Administration, Education and Health Services Management) with an emphasis on Christian education.

Recreation
Covering 11830 acres and 58 miles of shoreline, Stillhouse Hollow Lake—located on the Lampasas River—offers many attractive areas for outdoor recreation, water sports, hunting, fishing and boating. Stillhouse Hollow Lake is rated as one of the top lakes in Texas for water quality. Chalk Ridge Falls Park is also located on the river, and is home to the Chalk River Falls Nature Trail and a scenic waterfall.

Belton Lake, located on the Leon River, is a fisherman and boaters' haven, covering 12,300 acres with 136 miles of shoreline. Miller Springs Nature Center is located along the Leon River below the Belton Lake Dam.  The nature center—operated as a classroom without walls—is on 266 acres of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' property in the historic Tennessee Valley. Downtown Belton is home to a number of parks.

Heritage Park is situated on 62 acres off of 13th Street, while Confederate and Yettie Polk host Belton's Festival on Nolan Creek every 4th of July.

Arts, Entertainment and Tourism
Belton's beautifully restored downtown historic district is home to numerous specialty and antique shops and Texas' oldest family-owned department store—Cochran, Blair & Potts. Belton also offers affordable, updated lodging and fine dining— including award-winning Texas real pit barbecue.

With its continued emphasis on tourism promotion, the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee has established the Belton National Historic Walking Tour guide.  The guide leads visitors on a walking tour of 18 points of interest in the historic downtown area, starting and ending at the Bell County courthouse.

The rich history of the region can be explored further through the Bell County Museum, located in the restored Carnegie Library building. From pre-history to the land grant period, from the formation of the county in 1850 to the establishment of Fort Hood—the region's history is richly portrayed in permanent and rotating exhibits.

The Bell Fine Arts Association supports the arts throughout the region by providing a place for all artists to work perform and display art.

Bell Fine Arts also provides a venue for artists to share their knowledge and experience with others, and promotes all members' artwork through exhibits and competitions.

Since the early 1900s, Belton has hosted one of the oldest and largest Independence Day celebrations and parades in the state.  The God and Country Concert kicks off the celebration, and the weeklong festivities include the Ole Time Fiddlers' Contest.  The Bell County Expo Center also hosts four nights of rodeo entertainment.

Located off of I-35 on Loop 121, the Expo Center is a multipurpose entertainment education and exposition complex. In addition to rodeos, the Expo Center hosts the Central Texas State Fair, concerts and other events.

The Central Texas Blackhawks, a member of the American West Hockey League, first hit the ice in 2002. Utilizing the Expos Center as its home ice, the team is home to players looking to advance to NHL and college ranks.

Healthcare
Scott and White Hospital, combined with the Scott and White Health Plan, is housed in one of the largest multi-specialty group practices in the United States. A model of integrated health care, Scott and White combines a 515-physician clinic, a 486-bed hospital and a not-for-profit health plan that extends managed care to more than 166,000 people in 35 counties throughout a 27,000 square-mile area.

King's Daughters Hospital has been admitting patients for more than a century, and the hospital has evolved into a 150-bed, comprehensive hospital that serves Central Texas with a broad range of services.

Cedar Crest Hospital and Residential Treatment Center is a private, nonprofit organization that provides a full range of behavioral health care and therapeutic education to at risk children and youth (ages four to18) throughout Central Texas.  The main campus houses a 20-bed acute hospital, a 50- bed residential treatment center and an accredited charter school program.

Copperas Cove
Annual Events
May: Festival of Five Hills
October: Ogletree Gap Heritage Festival
December: Krist Kindl Market

Copperas Cove, a city with a proud heritage and a bright future, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for its citizens.

Pleasant neighborhoods are located throughout the city with many options in sizes, prices and architectural designs of homes.  There are many choices for buyers seeking a home for a small family, a growing Family or one with an abundance of plush amenities. Prime locations, such as areas with views of the hill country or overlooking a golf course, have been developed into prestigious neighborhoods with executive homes.

Rural living is also available. Many developments surrounding the city provide homes with acreage. Wild turkey, deer, armadillos and roadrunners are a common sight in the rolling hills surrounding Copperas Cove.

The wildlife, large oaks and mesquite sage and cacti form a picturesque scene of country living, yet the conveniences of the city are only a short distance away.

Copperas Cove Independent School District includes seven elementary, two intermediate campuses, two junior high schools, one high school and one alternative campus. Local support and interest in the young people and the school system have been determining factors in promoting the high achievement levels obtained by students on state and national standardized tests.  The many awards, trophies and certificates received by students and faculty alike demonstrate the professionalism, ability and caring of the entire school system. In addition to the public schools, private kindergartens and parochial schools are available. Recreation is bountiful in Copperas Cove.  The city park, with meandering creeks running through the treeshaded grounds, has a picnic area, swimming pool, tennis court and plenty of room for baseball games, soccer and enjoying a lazy afternoon.

The Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau hosts several festivals each year. Held annually during the third weekend in May, the Rabbit Fest leads into the summer months by celebrating Copperas Cove with live entertainment, golf tournament, parade, a multitude of crafts and food vendors. BMX enthusiasts will enjoy the bike races and performances given by local and out of town racers.  The festival boasts central Texas biggest softball tournament, which draws over 35 teams from throughout the state.

The annual Ogletree Gap Heritage Festival offers a step into the past for local residents and visitors from outside the city.  The festival takes place in late October at the site where the city has its roots, the Marsden Ogletree Stage Stop, just outside the western city limits off U.S. Highway l90.  The idea for the fest took shape during local planning efforts for the state's sesquicentennial celebration.  The idea caught on and now the sound of muskets can be heard echoing from the valley where Civil War reenactment troops fight various battles.

Fort Hood's First Cavalry Division Horse Detachment usually lends a helping hand by performing old and tried horse Soldier routines. Mountain man  Three Bites Wilson and his clan pitch tents and show just how easy it is to live primitively.  The Family demonstrates how to churn butter, blacksmith, make cornhusk dolls and many other crafts from the 1800s.

The first weekend in December brings the annual Krist Kindl Market. Get into the Christmas spirit by experiencing an old world German-type market place with a Texas flare. Visit arts and crafts booths, sample tasty foods from traditional European to Texas taters and enjoy daily entertainment.

Gatesville
Annual Event
December: Christmas Parade

Gatesville is located north of the Fort Hood Military Reservation at the junction of U.S. Highway 84 and State 36. It is the county seat of Coryell County, with an approximate population of 15,471.

The shopping activity in Gatesville is located throughout the town with a combination of specialty, antique, craft, furniture, appliance and gift shops.

There are monthly music productions at the City Auditorium and three parks in town for your enjoyment: Fuant LeRoy, Raby and Bown parks.

Faunt LeRoy Park is located on the Leon River and provides RV hookups, playground equipment, restrooms, grills and picnic tables.

Annual events include Coryell County Horse Show and Youth Fair, Annual Community Showcase, Wildcat Antique Show, Gatesville Riding Club Rodeo, Fire Ant 100K Tour, Fourth of July Parade, Texas Spur Festival, Chamber of Horrors and Christmas in the Park.

The Coryell County Courthouse was built in 1898 for the cost of $76,000 including furnishings.  The Courthouse has served Coryell County for over 100 years and is in full operational use.

The Coryell Memorial Hospital was built in 1976 with a 55-bed capacity. Since then, the Hospital has added a retirement home with 20 apartments, an assisted living center with 20 beds and a nursing home with 90 beds.  The Scott and White Clinic employs, 12 full-time doctors, which includes a radiologist and a surgeon.  There are also three dentist clinics, two eye care clinics and a veterinary clinic in town.

Gatesville is also home to six state-run prison facilities.  The prison system employs over 2800 people in the surrounding area. Gatesville has council-manager form of government with a mayor and six city council members. City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month where the public is invited to attend.

The fire department is strictly volunteer, with 33 volunteers and 14 pieces of equipment.  The police department employs 12 full time officers, three reserve officers and has eight radio-equipped vehicles.

There is a city-county airport at Gatesville with a 3,500 foot paved runway. Fuel service for planes is available. Use of the airport is free.

Harker Heights
Annual Events
July: Annual Golf Tournament-first weekend
October: Star Fest at Carl Levin Park-first weekend
October: Annual Chamber Banquet

Harker Heights is right in the middle of where you want to be.

The city has grown to its present population of more than 18,000.  The city boasts that it is one of the fastest growing cities in Texas.

The city provides an excellent quality of life to residents and businesses. Neighborhoods provide peace and quiet. Harker Heights is full of properties both for sale and rent, and claims to have the best value in housing investment in the area.

Harker Heights is located on U.S. Highway 190 and is only five miles east of Fort Hood and 10 miles west of Interstate 35, which connects Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Stillhouse Hollow Lake is just five miles south of U.S. Highway 190.

Local clinics with general practitioners, dentists and veterinarians, as well as a senior citizen living center are available.

Harker Heights offers its citizens excellent police protection within the city and portions of the county and emergency medical service second to none.

Harker Heights is part of the Killeen Independent School District and have some of the best elementary and middle schools in the district as well as a fairly new high school.  The city has many of its own restaurants including Japanese, German and Mexican Cuisine, as well as a variety of fast food restaurants.

Harker Heights also has several civic organizations, service clubs, convenience stores and the best in nighttime entertainment.

Recreational facilities offer tennis, racquetball, golfing, swimming, boating, camping, fishing and horseback riding.  The city also has a new city park, City Hall, Parks and Recreation Department and post office. Many new retail stores have opened in our local area, including an upscale new mall on Highway 190.

The city continues to sprout new housing developments, businesses. Currently being built is a new city park.

Killeen
Annual Events
November: Veterans Day Parade
December: Christmas Parade

A short drive along Central Texas Expressway brings the well-documented growth statistics of Killeen to life.  The concentration of population in the Greater Killeen area, combined with a low cost of living index, is the largest contributing factor in the growing service environment.

The flagship of service-oriented developments to the community consists of the Killeen Mall, Wal- Mart, Circuit City, Toys R Us, Lowe's and a variety of restaurants and food stores.  The indoor mall, conveniently located near the Central Texas Expressway (U.S. 190), has a unique architectural setting with more than 100 retail stores and restaurants.

The ever-increasing military population at Fort Hood has since World War II driven the growing service environment. In addition to the 80,000 Greater Killeen residents, Fort Hood provides an additional 60,000 consumers, pushing the total number of residents using services to more than 140,000. Greater Killeen residents and the growing Central Texas population support four network affiliated TV stations in addition to full cable services.

Killeen was founded in 1882 by the Santa Fe Railroad to serve as a shipping station for cotton and cattle, so it is fitting that transportation and Killeen's central location continue to play significant roles in the city's development.

An hour north of Austin by car, Killeen is located in the northern third of the growth corridor between San Antonio to the south and Waco to the north.  The Central Texas Expressway connects Killeen with Interstate 35, the four-lane highway that stretches from Duluth, Minn., to Laredo, Texas. Killeen has 20 arriving and departing buses scheduled daily and a thriving airport.

Five public athletic complexes, located on large tracts of land around Killeen, teem with activity during spring, summer and fall. Tennis, basketball, softball, swimming, even motor cross, rodeo and model airplane facilities are available.  The Killeen Parks and Recreation Department operate eight additional neighborhood parks and five recreation centers, as well as the community center. Five public, military and private golf courses offer a variety of challenges to Killeen golfers. Four public and military bowling centers offer a variety of league and tournament play.

The Vive Les Arts Society promotes the arts in Killeen. In addition to bringing symphony and ballet to Killeen, the society sponsors the Vive Les Arts  Theater. In addition to the six-show season, the theater has acting classes and special performances scheduled throughout the year.