Texas

Bell

370,647
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Bell

Bell, Texas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 4,799. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 370,647.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 74 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020370,647
2010310,235
2000237,974
1990191,088
1980157,889
1970124,483
196094,097
195073,824
194044,863
193050,030
192046,412
191049,186
190045,535
189033,377
188020,518
18709,771
18604,799
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Bell

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bell, Texas.

Salado College Archeological Site
Salado
Baines, George Washington, House
Salado
Bell County Courthouse
Belton
Barton House
Salado
Norton-Orgain House
Salado
Stagecoach Inn (Boundary Increase)
Salado
Old St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Belton
Stagecoach Inn
Salado
Bartlett Commercial Historic District
Bartlett
Robertson, Col. Elijah Sterling Clack, Plantation
Salado
Killeen High School
Killeen
Browse all Texashistoric sites ›

Other counties in Texas

Explore census history and historic records for more Texas counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bell County, Texas

This page charts the census history of Bell County, Texas. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bell

When does Bell first appear in the US census?
Bell, Texas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 4,799.
What is the population of Bell?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bell had a recorded population of 370,647.
How many historic places are in Bell?
74 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bell, Texas.
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