Killeen, Texas
Encyclopedia
Killeen is a city in Bell County
, Texas
, The United States. The population was 86,911 at the 2000 census
. As of 2009, Killeen had 119,510 people. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921. It is a "principal city" of the Killeen–Temple
–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
Killeen is directly adjacent to the main cantonment
of Fort Hood, and as such its economy heavily depends on the post and the soldiers (and their families) stationed there.
extended its tracks through central Texas, buying 360 acres (1.5 km²) a few miles southwest of a small farming community known as Palo Alto, which had existed since about 1872. The railroad platted a 70-block town on its land and named it after Frank P. Killeen, the assistant general manager of the railroad. By the next year the town included a railroad depot, a saloon, several stores, and a school. Many of the residents of the surrounding smaller communities in the area moved to Killeen and by 1884 the town had grown to include about 350 people, served by five general stores, two gristmills, two cotton gins, two saloons, a lumberyard, a blacksmith shop, and a hotel. Killeen expanded as it became an important shipping point for cotton, wool, and grain in western Bell
and eastern Coryell
counties. About 780 people lived in Killeen by 1900. Around 1905, local politicians and businessmen convinced the Texas legislature to build bridges over Cowhouse Creek and other streams, doubling Killeen's trade area. A public water system began operation in 1914 and its population had increased to 1,300 residents.
Until the 1940s Killeen remained a relatively small and isolated farm trade center, but this changed drastically after 1942, when Camp Hood (re-commissioned as Fort Hood in 1950) was created as a military training post to meet the demands of the Second World War
. Laborers, construction workers, contractors, soldiers, and their families moved into the area by the thousands, and Killeen became a military boomtown. The opening of Camp Hood also radically altered the nature of the local economy, since the sprawling new military post covered almost half of Killeen's farming trade area. The loss of more than three hundred farms and ranches led to the demise of Killeen's cotton gins and other farm related businesses. New businesses were started to provide services for the military camp. Killeen suffered a recession when Camp Hood was all but abandoned after the end of the Second World War, but when Fort Hood was established as a permanent army post in 1950, the city boomed again. Its population increased from about 1,300 in 1949 to 7,045 in 1950, and between 1950 and 1951 about a hundred new commercial buildings were constructed in Killeen.
By 1955, Killeen had an estimated 21,076 residents and 224 businesses. Troop cutbacks and transfers in the mid-fifties led to another recession in Killeen which lasted until 1959, when various divisions were returned to Fort Hood. (Elvis Presley
even lived in Killeen for a time during his stint in the army.) The town continued to grow through the 1960s, especially after the Vietnam War
led to increased activity at Fort Hood. By 1970 Killeen had developed into a city of 35,507 inhabitants and had added a municipal airport, a new municipal library, and a junior college (Central Texas College
). By 1980, when the census counted 49,307 people in Killeen, it was the largest city in Bell County. By 1990 its population had increased to 63,535, and 265,301 people lived in the Killeen/Temple metropolitan area. In addition to shaping local economic development after 1950, the military presence at Fort Hood also changed the city's racial, religious, and ethnic composition. No blacks lived in the city in 1950, for example, but by the early 1950s the town had added Marlboro Heights, an all-black subdivision, and in 1956 the city school board voted to integrate the local high school
. The city's first resident Catholic priest was assigned to the St. Joseph's parish in 1954, and around the same time, new Presbyterian and Episcopal churches were built. By the 1980s the city had a heterogeneous population including whites, blacks, Mexican Americans, Koreans, and a number of other foreign nationals.
The year 1991 was a roller coaster year for Killeen. After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in the late summer of 1990, the city prepared for war; sending thousands of troops from the Second Armored Division and the First Cavalry Division to the Middle East. On October 16, 1991, George Hennard murdered 23 people and then committed suicide in the Luby's
in Killeen (see Luby's massacre
). In December 1991, one of Killeen's high school football
teams, the Killeen Kangaroos, won the 5-A Division I state football championship by defeating Sugar Land Dulles 14–10 in the Astrodome.
By 2000, the census listed Killeen's population as 86,911, although it is now over 100,000, making the greater Killeen area one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation. A large number of military personnel from Killeen have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As of April 2008, over 400 of its soldiers have died in the two wars.
On November 5, 2009, a gunman opened fire on people at the Fort Hood military base with two handguns, killing 13 and wounding 30. The alleged gunman, Nidal Malik Hasan
, sustained 4 gunshot wounds causing paralysis from the waist down. (See Fort Hood shooting
)in 2011 Killeen got media attention from a new television series called Surprise Homecoming hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus about military families that have loved ones over seas returning home.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²), of which, 35.3 square miles (91.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.14%) is water.
Record High 88 94 96 98 100 107 109 107 112 102 91 82
Average High 58 63 70 78 84 91 95 96 89 80 68 60
Average Low 34 38 45 53 61 69 72 71 65 56 44 36
Record Low 5 2 19 32 44 51 55 56 42 24 19 -2
Average precip. 1.66 2.46 2.93 2.46 4.49 3.70 1.34 1.85 3.13 3.23 2.93 2.70
of 2000, there were 86,911 people, 32,447 households, and 22,972 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,458.9 people per square mile (949.3/km²). There were 35,343 housing units at an average density of 999.9 per square mile (386.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.78% White, 33.49% Black, 0.78% Native American, 4.33% Asian, 0.91% Pacific Islander, 8.99% from other races
, and 5.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.80% of the population.
There were 32,447 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 16.0% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 13.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,461, and the median income for a family was $36,674. Males had a median income of $26,502 versus $21,799 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,323, compared to the national per capita of $21,587. About 11.2% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
In 2007, Coldwell Banker
ranked Killeen, Texas as the most affordable housing market in the United States
with an average cost of $136,725.
, and the City Council is in effect disbanded until at least three seats are filled. It is believed that this will not occur until February at the earliest, and possibly not until May of 2012.
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
. According to the FBI’s UCR Program, Violent Crimes are the aggregation of the UCR Part 1 Crimes of murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Non-violent Crimes are the aggregation of the crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft.
Killeen’s 2008 UCR Part 1 Crimes break down as follows:
Rates are crimes per 100,000 population. The Killeen rates are calculated using the estimated 2008 population figure of 115,906 as provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety
.
[edit] Education
The Killeen Fire Department is led by the current Fire Chief, Chief Jerry Gardner. Chief Gardner has been the Fire Chief since 2006 when he joined KFD after leading the Pasadena Fire Department in the Houston area for many years. Chief Gardner is assisted in his duties by three deputy chiefs; DC Steve Buchanan, DC Kenneth Hawthorne, and DC Brian Brank. In addition to the staff officers, the staff is supplemented and assisted by several secretaries and paid assistants.
The Killeen Fire Department is separated into three separate divisions; Training, Fire Prevention, and Operation. The latter being broken into three shifts; A, B, and C.
Battalion 1 is headquartered at Central Fire Station and is led by BC Joel Secrist (A-shift), BC Leon Adamski (B-shift), and BC Cody Simmons (C-Shift). Battalion-1 encompasses Fire Stations 1, Central, 3, and 4 which protect the older northern portion of the city. Battalion 2 is headquartered at Fire Station #8 and is led by BC Bill Brooks (A-shift), BC Clay Brooks (B-shift), and BC Linda Brooks (C-shift). Battalion-2 encompasses fire stations 5, 6, 7, and 8 protecting the southern portion of the city in addition to providing protection to the extraterritorial jurisdiction in the rural area south of the city limits.
Currently the department provides emergency services from 8 fire stations strategically placed throughout the city. Nearly two hundred personnel staff 5 Engine Companies, 2 Ladder Companies, 7 Ambulances, and one Aircraft Rescue Firefighting unit. In addition to the line companies, the two battalion captains are assisted with EMS supervision by the EMS Lieutenant assigned to each shift.
KFD recently relocated Fire Station #1 to a new facility on Westcliff Rd to provide improved responses in the northern areas of the city and Fire Station #9 is currently being planned on the southwest area of town to improve protection to the growing population in that area.
(GRK), and the HOP public bus transit system. The HOP buses are easily identified by their teal and purple color exteriors. The HOP recently purchased new buses with the new color green.
Major highways that run through Killeen are U.S. Highway 190 (Central Texas Expressway (or CenTex), Business Loop 190 (Veterans Memorial Boulevard), State Highway 195, Spur 172 (leading into Fort Hood main gate), and Interstate 35 (10 miles away in Belton
).
(KISD) is the largest school district between Round Rock
and Dallas
, encompassing Killeen, Harker Heights, Fort Hood, Nolanville
, and rural west Bell County. KISD has, as of 2005, thirty elementary schools (PK-5), eleven middle schools (6-8), four high schools (9-12), and six specialized campuses. KISD's four high schools and mascots are the Killeen High School Kangaroos (the original city-wide high school), the Ellison High School
Eagles, Harker Heights High School Knights, and the Shoemaker High School Grey Wolves.
Creek View Academy (previously Destiny School), a K-9 charter school of Honors Academy
, is in Killeen.
Central Texas College
was established in 1965 to serve Bell, Burnet, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Mills and San Saba counties in addition to Ft Hood. CTC offers more than 40 associate degrees and certificates of completion.
Texas A&M University-Central Texas opened on September 1, 1999 as a branch campus of nearby Tarleton State University
. After the campus enrolled 1,000 full-time equivalent students, Tarleton State University-Central Texas became a separate institution within the Texas A&M University System
. The university offers bachelor's and master's degrees.
Killeen also has a well established music scene with varying genres. Rapper Scarface from Houston has signed local group Green City to his label with the members of the group also enjoying varying levels of success, and Downsiid (a rap/rock/soul hybrid) are currently enjoying national tours and Bodog Battle of the Band contests. Their debut album with Virgin Records, Life of Lies, will be released in late 2010. Killeen is also home R&B singer, rapper, and songwriter Jon Taylor and also to Metal/Grunge sensation, Dear Cyanide, who began as an all military act and have evolved into one of the local areas favorite attractions, with thrashy riffs and smooth vocals (not to mention gallons of fake blood that ends up all over the band, the crowd, and everything in between).
Killeen is also home to Vive Les Arts Theatre, a full-time arts organization which produces several Main Stage and Children's Theatre shows each year. This community theatre relies on local talent and contributions to produce its high-quality productions. Recent shows include the long-running Broadway hit Cats, Ain't Misbehavin' (a tribute to the songs of Fats Waller) and All Shook Up (a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Elvis Presley).
with San Juan, Puerto Rico
Osan
, Korea
Bell County, Texas
Bell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Bell County was founded in 1850. It is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2000, the county's population was 237,974; in 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau reported that its population had reached...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, The United States. The population was 86,911 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. As of 2009, Killeen had 119,510 people. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921. It is a "principal city" of the Killeen–Temple
Temple, Texas
Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. In the 2010 Census, Temple's population was 66,102, an...
–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood metropolitan area
The Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in Central Texas that covers three counties - Bell, Coryell, and Lampasas...
.
Killeen is directly adjacent to the main cantonment
Cantonment
A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
of Fort Hood, and as such its economy heavily depends on the post and the soldiers (and their families) stationed there.
History
In 1881, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe RailwayAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
extended its tracks through central Texas, buying 360 acres (1.5 km²) a few miles southwest of a small farming community known as Palo Alto, which had existed since about 1872. The railroad platted a 70-block town on its land and named it after Frank P. Killeen, the assistant general manager of the railroad. By the next year the town included a railroad depot, a saloon, several stores, and a school. Many of the residents of the surrounding smaller communities in the area moved to Killeen and by 1884 the town had grown to include about 350 people, served by five general stores, two gristmills, two cotton gins, two saloons, a lumberyard, a blacksmith shop, and a hotel. Killeen expanded as it became an important shipping point for cotton, wool, and grain in western Bell
Bell County, Texas
Bell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Bell County was founded in 1850. It is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2000, the county's population was 237,974; in 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau reported that its population had reached...
and eastern Coryell
Coryell County, Texas
Coryell County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 74,978. The county seat is Gatesville. Coryell County forms part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area...
counties. About 780 people lived in Killeen by 1900. Around 1905, local politicians and businessmen convinced the Texas legislature to build bridges over Cowhouse Creek and other streams, doubling Killeen's trade area. A public water system began operation in 1914 and its population had increased to 1,300 residents.
Until the 1940s Killeen remained a relatively small and isolated farm trade center, but this changed drastically after 1942, when Camp Hood (re-commissioned as Fort Hood in 1950) was created as a military training post to meet the demands of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Laborers, construction workers, contractors, soldiers, and their families moved into the area by the thousands, and Killeen became a military boomtown. The opening of Camp Hood also radically altered the nature of the local economy, since the sprawling new military post covered almost half of Killeen's farming trade area. The loss of more than three hundred farms and ranches led to the demise of Killeen's cotton gins and other farm related businesses. New businesses were started to provide services for the military camp. Killeen suffered a recession when Camp Hood was all but abandoned after the end of the Second World War, but when Fort Hood was established as a permanent army post in 1950, the city boomed again. Its population increased from about 1,300 in 1949 to 7,045 in 1950, and between 1950 and 1951 about a hundred new commercial buildings were constructed in Killeen.
By 1955, Killeen had an estimated 21,076 residents and 224 businesses. Troop cutbacks and transfers in the mid-fifties led to another recession in Killeen which lasted until 1959, when various divisions were returned to Fort Hood. (Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
even lived in Killeen for a time during his stint in the army.) The town continued to grow through the 1960s, especially after the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
led to increased activity at Fort Hood. By 1970 Killeen had developed into a city of 35,507 inhabitants and had added a municipal airport, a new municipal library, and a junior college (Central Texas College
Central Texas College
Central Texas College is a community college located in Killeen, Texas, which was founded in 1965.As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of CTC comprises the following:...
). By 1980, when the census counted 49,307 people in Killeen, it was the largest city in Bell County. By 1990 its population had increased to 63,535, and 265,301 people lived in the Killeen/Temple metropolitan area. In addition to shaping local economic development after 1950, the military presence at Fort Hood also changed the city's racial, religious, and ethnic composition. No blacks lived in the city in 1950, for example, but by the early 1950s the town had added Marlboro Heights, an all-black subdivision, and in 1956 the city school board voted to integrate the local high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. The city's first resident Catholic priest was assigned to the St. Joseph's parish in 1954, and around the same time, new Presbyterian and Episcopal churches were built. By the 1980s the city had a heterogeneous population including whites, blacks, Mexican Americans, Koreans, and a number of other foreign nationals.
The year 1991 was a roller coaster year for Killeen. After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in the late summer of 1990, the city prepared for war; sending thousands of troops from the Second Armored Division and the First Cavalry Division to the Middle East. On October 16, 1991, George Hennard murdered 23 people and then committed suicide in the Luby's
Luby's
As of March 2011, Luby's, Inc. operates restaurants under the brands Luby's, Fuddruckers and...
in Killeen (see Luby's massacre
Luby's massacre
The Luby's massacre was a mass murder that took place on October 16, 1991, in Killeen, Texas, United States when George Hennard ″Jo Jo" drove his pickup truck into a Luby's cafeteria and shot 23 people to death while wounding another 20, subsequently committing suicide by shooting himself...
). In December 1991, one of Killeen's high school football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
teams, the Killeen Kangaroos, won the 5-A Division I state football championship by defeating Sugar Land Dulles 14–10 in the Astrodome.
By 2000, the census listed Killeen's population as 86,911, although it is now over 100,000, making the greater Killeen area one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation. A large number of military personnel from Killeen have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As of April 2008, over 400 of its soldiers have died in the two wars.
On November 5, 2009, a gunman opened fire on people at the Fort Hood military base with two handguns, killing 13 and wounding 30. The alleged gunman, Nidal Malik Hasan
Nidal Malik Hasan
Nidal Malik Hasan, USA is a United States Army officer and sole suspect in the November 5, 2009, Fort Hood shooting, which occurred less than a month before he would have deployed to Afghanistan....
, sustained 4 gunshot wounds causing paralysis from the waist down. (See Fort Hood shooting
Fort Hood shooting
The Fort Hood shooting was a mass shooting that took place on November 5, 2009, at Fort Hood, the most populous U.S. military installation in the world, located just outside Killeen, Texas. In the course of the shooting, a single gunman killed 13 people and wounded 29 others...
)in 2011 Killeen got media attention from a new television series called Surprise Homecoming hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus about military families that have loved ones over seas returning home.
Geography
Killeen is located at 31°6′20"N 97°43′36"W (31.105591, -97.726586).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²), of which, 35.3 square miles (91.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.14%) is water.
Climate
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecRecord High 88 94 96 98 100 107 109 107 112 102 91 82
Average High 58 63 70 78 84 91 95 96 89 80 68 60
Average Low 34 38 45 53 61 69 72 71 65 56 44 36
Record Low 5 2 19 32 44 51 55 56 42 24 19 -2
Average precip. 1.66 2.46 2.93 2.46 4.49 3.70 1.34 1.85 3.13 3.23 2.93 2.70
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 86,911 people, 32,447 households, and 22,972 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,458.9 people per square mile (949.3/km²). There were 35,343 housing units at an average density of 999.9 per square mile (386.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.78% White, 33.49% Black, 0.78% Native American, 4.33% Asian, 0.91% Pacific Islander, 8.99% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 5.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.80% of the population.
There were 32,447 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 16.0% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 13.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,461, and the median income for a family was $36,674. Males had a median income of $26,502 versus $21,799 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,323, compared to the national per capita of $21,587. About 11.2% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
In 2007, Coldwell Banker
Coldwell Banker
Coldwell Banker is a large real estate franchise founded in 1906 in San Francisco.Coldwell Banker has an international presence, with offices on six continents, 46 countries and territories...
ranked Killeen, Texas as the most affordable housing market in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with an average cost of $136,725.
2011 Recall
On November 8th, 2011 five members of the Killeen City Council were recalled. As a consequence, the remaining members of the council will not be able to achieve a quorumQuorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
, and the City Council is in effect disbanded until at least three seats are filled. It is believed that this will not occur until February at the earliest, and possibly not until May of 2012.
Local government
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $133.4 million in Revenues, $119.0 million in expenditures, $523.3 million in total assets, $219.9 million in total liabilities, and $90.4 million in cash and investments.The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
| City Department | Director |
|---|---|
| City Manager | Vacant |
| Assistant City Manager | Glenn Morrison |
| Building Official | Earl Abbott |
| City Attorney | Kathryn H. Davis |
| City Secretary | Paula Miller |
| Chief of Police | Dennis M. Baldwin |
| Director of Aviation | John Sutton |
| Director of Community Development | Leslie Hinkle |
| Director of Community Services | Jonathan Watson |
| Director of Convention & Visitor’s Bureau | Connie Kuehl |
| Director of Finance | Barbara Gonzales |
| Director of Fleet | Kim Randall |
| Director of General Services | Brenda Essenburg |
| Director of Human Resources | Debbie Maynor |
| Director of Information Technology | Donald Fine |
| Director of Library Services | Deanna Frazee |
| Director of Planning | Dr. Ray Shanaa |
| Director of Public Information | Hilary Shine |
| Director of Public Works | Vacant |
| Director of Solid Waste and Drainage Services | Wayne McBride |
| Director of Street Services | John Koester |
| Director of Utility Services | Robert White |
| Director of Volunteer Services | Will Brewster |
| Director of Water & Sewer | Robert White |
| Fire Chief | Jerry Gardner |
Notable residents
- Robert Gray: Served as a B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
command pilot on Jimmy DoolittleJimmy DoolittleGeneral James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle, USAF was an American aviation pioneer. Doolittle served as a brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general in the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War...
's "Doolittle RaidDoolittle RaidThe Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
" over Tokyo, Japan on April 18, 1942. On March 27, 1942, Gray buzzed Main Street with his B-25 en route to Alameda Bay, California via San Antonio, Texas. Gray Street and Gray Army Airfield on West Fort Hood are named in his honor. - Tommie HarrisTommie HarrisTommie Harris, Jr. is an American football defensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma.Harris has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts...
: Former Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive tackle, former star at Ellison High SchoolEllison High SchoolEllison High School is a public high school in the community of Killeen, Bell County, Texas for grades 9-12. It is one of four high schools in the Killeen Independent School District. Ellison High School opened in 1978 and the first graduation class was held in 1979. The current principal of the...
in Killeen - Deezil Greezil-Hip Hop pioneer also known as the "Kurtis Blow" of the 4th City.
- Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
: Stationed at Fort Hood and lived in Killeen for a short time. - Tia MowryTia MowryTia Dashon Mowry-Hardrict is an American actress. She first gained fame for her teen role as Tia Landry on the ABC/WB sitcom Sister, Sister...
& Tamera MowryTamera MowryTamera Darvette Mowry-Housley is an American actress. She first gained fame for her teen role as Tamera Campbell on the ABC/WB sitcom Sister, Sister...
- (Sister, SisterSister, SisterSister, Sister may refer to:* Sister, Sister , a TV movie starring Diahann Carroll* Sister, Sister , a thriller starring Eric Stoltz* Sister, Sister , by Andrew Neiderman...
fame) Father was stationed at Fort Hood and they lived in Killeen for a short time. - Jennifer Love HewittJennifer Love HewittJennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
lived in Killeen at one time. - Laura Chapin lived in nearby Harker Heights. She played "Kathy" on the TV show "Father knows Best". She was married to an army officer.
- Burgess MeredithBurgess MeredithOliver Burgess Meredith , known professionally as Burgess Meredith, was an American actor in theatre, film, and television, who also worked as a director...
- He played the penguin on Adam West's BatmanBatmanBatman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. Also played Rocky's manager in the movie "RockyRockyRocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and both written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It tells the rags to riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
" that starred Sylvester StalloneSylvester StalloneMichael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
. - Burt ReynoldsBurt ReynoldsBurton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
- Famous actor lived in Killeen at one time. - Karac Howington - Celebrated author of 13 volumes of Star Trek fan fiction, mostly centered around the Spock character. Noted as one of the "Young Writers to Watch of 2009" by Treksplooge.com
- Jackie RobinsonJackie RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
- Famous baseball player and lived in Killeen for his military time. - Ameriie - Famous R&B singer. Father was stationed at Fort Hood and she lived in Killeen and attended Ellison High SchoolEllison High SchoolEllison High School is a public high school in the community of Killeen, Bell County, Texas for grades 9-12. It is one of four high schools in the Killeen Independent School District. Ellison High School opened in 1978 and the first graduation class was held in 1979. The current principal of the...
at one time. - Todd ReesingTodd ReesingTodd Reesing is a former starting quarterback for the Kansas Jayhawks.- High school career:Reesing attended Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas and was a good student and a letterman in football and baseball. In football, Reesing was named the Texas 4A Player of the Year as a junior...
- Former quarterback for the Kansas JayhawksKansas JayhawksThe sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...
.
Economy
According to the City's 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Hood | 58,187 | |||
| 2 | Killeen Independent School District | 6,00 | 3 | Central Texas College | 1,360 |
| 4 | MetroPlex Hospital | 1,300 | |||
| 5 | Fort Hood Exchange | 1,218 | |||
| 6 | City of Killeen | 1,100 | |||
| 7 | First National Bank | 1,000 | |||
| 8 | Sallie Mae (Now Aegis) | 936 | |||
| 9 | Killeen Mall | 800 | |||
| 10 | Wal-Mart | 650 | |||
Crime
In 2008, there were 885 Violent Crimes and 4757 Non-violent crimes reported in the City of Killeen as part of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) ProgramUniform Crime Reports
The Uniform Crime Reports are published by the United States Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reporting Program...
. According to the FBI’s UCR Program, Violent Crimes are the aggregation of the UCR Part 1 Crimes of murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Non-violent Crimes are the aggregation of the crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft.
Killeen’s 2008 UCR Part 1 Crimes break down as follows:
| Crime | Reported Offenses | Killeen Rate | Texas Rate | U.S. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 10 | 8.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 |
| Forcible Rape | 66 | 56.9 | 32.9 | 29.4 |
| Robbery | 216 | 186.4 | 155.2 | 154.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 593 | 511.6 | 314.4 | 281.6 |
| Violent Crime | 885 | 763.5 | 508.2 | 470.6 |
| Burglary | 1711 | 1476.2 | 946.5 | 743.4 |
| Larceny - Theft | 2877 | 2482.2 | 2688.9 | 2200.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 169 | 145.8 | 351.1 | 330.5 |
| Non-violent Crime | 4757 | 4104.2 | 3986.6 | 3274.0 |
Rates are crimes per 100,000 population. The Killeen rates are calculated using the estimated 2008 population figure of 115,906 as provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Department of Public Safety
The Texas Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and vehicle regulation. The Public Safety Commission oversees the DPS. Its five members are appointed by the Governor of Texas and confirmed by the...
.
Public safety
The city of Killeen is protected by two municipal civil service departments, the Killeen Fire Department and the Killeen Police Department.[edit] Education
The Killeen Fire Department is led by the current Fire Chief, Chief Jerry Gardner. Chief Gardner has been the Fire Chief since 2006 when he joined KFD after leading the Pasadena Fire Department in the Houston area for many years. Chief Gardner is assisted in his duties by three deputy chiefs; DC Steve Buchanan, DC Kenneth Hawthorne, and DC Brian Brank. In addition to the staff officers, the staff is supplemented and assisted by several secretaries and paid assistants.
The Killeen Fire Department is separated into three separate divisions; Training, Fire Prevention, and Operation. The latter being broken into three shifts; A, B, and C.
- The Training Division is led by the senior Training lieutenant Lt Randy Pearson . He is assisted by a junior lieutenant Lt Mikkie Jordan. Together they are responsible for all of the training of on duty personnel, as well as Fire training academies of cadet trainees. The training division hosts two training academies per year for individuals that wish to become Texas Certified Fire Fighters. They also host a two year program in conjunction with the Killeen Independent School District that allows high school juniors and seniors to become certified firefighters while graduating from high school. The Killeen Fire Department and Killeen Independent School District are the first in the State to have such a program. To date it has been a very successful program resulting in the hiring of many local men and women directly out of high school.
- The training division is also responsible for a few community outreach programs.
- Child Safety Seat Class
- The Killeen Fire Department holds classes regarding child safety seats every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. The class will discuss the values of proper child safety installation, as well as aid in installing your privately purchased seat. Also on a limited basis the Fire Department has Child Safety Seats available to low income families.
- Child Immunization
- The Killeen Fire Department hosts annual immunization drives. These are no-cost shot clinics aimed at both civilian and military families. They are hosted at the beginning of the school year during the end of summer vacation. They are also hosted on a monthly basis on every second Saturday (except for august) from 10:00-2:00 at the Killeen Fire Training Center. Again these are no-cost to the individual, and it’s aimed at providing a better standard of living for the citizens of central Texas.
- The Killeen Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division is currently helmed by Fire Marshal James Chism. Mr. Chism and his four inspectors are responsible for the inspection of all businesses within the City Limits. They are also responsible for the investigation of all fires, both accidental and malicious. Their arson investigations of have one of the highest conviction rates within Texas, sometimes doubling the rates of similar sized municipalities. The Fire Prevention division also has a great history having attained the Number One in Fire Prevention in the nation in the mid seventies.
- The Third Division is also the largest and most well known, the Operations division.
- It is responsible for the day-to day operations of the fire department. The Operations Division is responsible for in excess of 12,000 ambulance calls and 6,000 fire calls annually. The Operation Division is led by Deputy Chief Steven Buchanan and is divided equally amongst three shifts each rotating on duty for 24 hours followed by 48 hours off. The schedule is designed so that there is a full complement of personnel 24/7/365. Each shift is further divided into two Battalions which are led by Battalion Captains.
Battalion 1 is headquartered at Central Fire Station and is led by BC Joel Secrist (A-shift), BC Leon Adamski (B-shift), and BC Cody Simmons (C-Shift). Battalion-1 encompasses Fire Stations 1, Central, 3, and 4 which protect the older northern portion of the city. Battalion 2 is headquartered at Fire Station #8 and is led by BC Bill Brooks (A-shift), BC Clay Brooks (B-shift), and BC Linda Brooks (C-shift). Battalion-2 encompasses fire stations 5, 6, 7, and 8 protecting the southern portion of the city in addition to providing protection to the extraterritorial jurisdiction in the rural area south of the city limits.
Currently the department provides emergency services from 8 fire stations strategically placed throughout the city. Nearly two hundred personnel staff 5 Engine Companies, 2 Ladder Companies, 7 Ambulances, and one Aircraft Rescue Firefighting unit. In addition to the line companies, the two battalion captains are assisted with EMS supervision by the EMS Lieutenant assigned to each shift.
KFD recently relocated Fire Station #1 to a new facility on Westcliff Rd to provide improved responses in the northern areas of the city and Fire Station #9 is currently being planned on the southwest area of town to improve protection to the growing population in that area.
Transportation
Killeen is served by a small regional airfield known as Skylark Field (ILE), the larger Killeen-Fort Hood Regional AirportKilleen-Fort Hood Regional Airport
Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport is a small military/commercial joint-use airport also known by its military designation as Robert Gray Army Airfield. The airport is based inside the south end of the Fort Hood Military Reservation , a few miles southwest of Killeen in unincorporated Bell County,...
(GRK), and the HOP public bus transit system. The HOP buses are easily identified by their teal and purple color exteriors. The HOP recently purchased new buses with the new color green.
Major highways that run through Killeen are U.S. Highway 190 (Central Texas Expressway (or CenTex), Business Loop 190 (Veterans Memorial Boulevard), State Highway 195, Spur 172 (leading into Fort Hood main gate), and Interstate 35 (10 miles away in Belton
Belton, Texas
Belton is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bell County.Belton is part of the Killeen – Temple – Fort Hood metropolitan area.-Geography:...
).
Education
The Killeen Independent School DistrictKilleen Independent School District
Killeen Independent School District is a public school district based in Killeen, Texas .In addition to Killeen, the district serves the cities of Harker Heights and Nolanville as well as all students residing at Fort Hood...
(KISD) is the largest school district between Round Rock
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
and Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, encompassing Killeen, Harker Heights, Fort Hood, Nolanville
Nolanville, Texas
Nolanville is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,150 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and rural west Bell County. KISD has, as of 2005, thirty elementary schools (PK-5), eleven middle schools (6-8), four high schools (9-12), and six specialized campuses. KISD's four high schools and mascots are the Killeen High School Kangaroos (the original city-wide high school), the Ellison High School
Ellison High School
Ellison High School is a public high school in the community of Killeen, Bell County, Texas for grades 9-12. It is one of four high schools in the Killeen Independent School District. Ellison High School opened in 1978 and the first graduation class was held in 1979. The current principal of the...
Eagles, Harker Heights High School Knights, and the Shoemaker High School Grey Wolves.
Creek View Academy (previously Destiny School), a K-9 charter school of Honors Academy
Honors Academy
Honors Academy Charter School District is a group of state charter schools with its administrative offices in Farmers Branch, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Schools:6-12* Legacy Academy 9-12* Landmark School K-9...
, is in Killeen.
Central Texas College
Central Texas College
Central Texas College is a community college located in Killeen, Texas, which was founded in 1965.As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of CTC comprises the following:...
was established in 1965 to serve Bell, Burnet, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Mills and San Saba counties in addition to Ft Hood. CTC offers more than 40 associate degrees and certificates of completion.
Texas A&M University-Central Texas opened on September 1, 1999 as a branch campus of nearby Tarleton State University
Tarleton State University
Tarleton State University is a public, coeducational, state university located in Stephenville, Texas. It is the largest non-land-grant university primarily devoted to agriculture in the United States....
. After the campus enrolled 1,000 full-time equivalent students, Tarleton State University-Central Texas became a separate institution within the Texas A&M University System
Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the United States. Through a statewide network of eleven universities, eight state agencies and a comprehensive health science center, the Texas A&M System educates over 100,000 students, conducts more than $600...
. The university offers bachelor's and master's degrees.
Media and entertainment
Killeen's main newspaper is the Killeen Daily Herald, which has been publishing under different formats since 1890. The paper was one of four owned by the legendary Texas publisher Frank W. Mayborn, whose wife remains its editor and publisher. The Herald also publishes the Fort Hood Herald, an independent publication in the Fort Hood area, not authorized by Fort Hood Public Affairs and the Cove Herald for the residents of Copperas Cove which is a weekly paper. The official paper of Ft. Hood, however, is The Fort Hood Sentinel, an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army that is editorially independent of the U.S. government and military.Killeen also has a well established music scene with varying genres. Rapper Scarface from Houston has signed local group Green City to his label with the members of the group also enjoying varying levels of success, and Downsiid (a rap/rock/soul hybrid) are currently enjoying national tours and Bodog Battle of the Band contests. Their debut album with Virgin Records, Life of Lies, will be released in late 2010. Killeen is also home R&B singer, rapper, and songwriter Jon Taylor and also to Metal/Grunge sensation, Dear Cyanide, who began as an all military act and have evolved into one of the local areas favorite attractions, with thrashy riffs and smooth vocals (not to mention gallons of fake blood that ends up all over the band, the crowd, and everything in between).
Killeen is also home to Vive Les Arts Theatre, a full-time arts organization which produces several Main Stage and Children's Theatre shows each year. This community theatre relies on local talent and contributions to produce its high-quality productions. Recent shows include the long-running Broadway hit Cats, Ain't Misbehavin' (a tribute to the songs of Fats Waller) and All Shook Up (a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Elvis Presley).
Radio stations
- AM 1050 KRMY
- FM 91.3 KNCT-FMKNCT-FMKNCT-FM is a public radio station broadcasting a Easy Listening format. Licensed to Killeen, Texas, USA, the station is currently owned by Central Texas College. The studio is located on the campus of Central Texas College in Killeen. The transmission facility is located in Belton....
- FM 92.3 KIIZ-FMKIIZ-FMKIIZ-FM is a commercial Urban Contemporary radio station in Killeen, Texas, broadcasting on 92.3 MHz. The station is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.-History:...
- FM 97.5
- FM 101.7
- FM 105.5
- FM 106.3
- FM 107.3
Twin towns — Sister cities
Killeen is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
Osan
Osan
Osan is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, approximately 35 km south of Seoul. The population of the city is around 120,000. The local economy is supported by a mix of agricultural and industrial enterprises....
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...