Gail Bartlett (254) 760 0250

Temple, TX Area Guide

Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas that is located in the region referred to as Central Texas. As of the 2000 census, the Temple population was 54,514, but a 2006 estimate places the current population at more than 60,000. Currently known as the "Wildflower Capital of Texas," Temple was originally founded in 1881 as a railroad town. It was named in honor of Bernard Moore Temple, civil engineer and former surveyor with the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway Company that established the town. Temple is known for its strength as a regional medical center, due to being home to more physicians per capita than any other community in the nation. Temple is the site of one of two major campuses for the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. Besides health services, Temple is home to many regional distribution centers and headquarters to two large, multi-national companies, Wilsonart International and McLane Company. The Temple Daily Telegram is the daily newspaper.

History

Temple started out as a railroad town with the creation of Temple Junction on June 29, 1881. Temple Junction was created as the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway pushed north from Galveston and trains brought prospective buyers in for an auction of town lots. By the end of the day, 157 business lots and 28 residential lots were sold. The new settlement was named in honor of Bernard Moore Temple, the Santa Fe's chief engineer; however, he would never live in the town that bore his name.

The railroad lured a diverse population including doctors, lawyers and merchants. The city was incorporated in 1882, and by 1884 its 3,000 residents were served by three churches and a school, as well as two banks, two weekly newspapers, an opera house, and a waterworks, among others. Temple boomed, soon exceeding the size of nearby Belton, the county seat of Bell County.

Today, the city is one of the leading medical centers in the Southwest, thanks to King's Daughters Hospital (1896), Scott & White Hospital and Clinic (1897), and the Olin E. Teague Veterans center (1943). Temple has grown steadily because of its diverse economy - agriculture, transportation, manufacturing and medicine. It continues to shine as one of Texas' brightest stars.

Events and Attractions

Temple, Texas is home to a vast array of events and attractions that draw visitors from all over. Come and see some of Temple’s spectacular museums, parks, and shows. Please continue reading below to discover just some of the treasures that await you in Temple.

Railroad & Heritage Museum
http://www.rrhm.org/

Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center
http://www.czechmuseum.org/

Bell County Museum
http://www.bellcountytx.com/Museum/index.html

Lake Belton
http://www.ci.temple.tx.us/index.aspx?nid=534

Cultural Activities Center
http://www.cacarts.org/

Temple Symphony Orchestra
http://www.templesymphony.org/

Temple Civic Theatre
http://www.artstemple.com/

Temple Parks
http://tx-temple.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=197