Belton, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Belton, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Belton, Texas

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mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Bell

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 34.1
area_land_km2 = 32.3
area_water_km2 = 1.7
area_total_sq_mi = 13.2
area_land_sq_mi = 12.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.7

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 14623
population_density_km2 = 452.2
population_density_sq_mi = 1171.3

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 155
elevation_ft = 509
latd = 31 |latm = 3 |lats = 32 |latNS = N
longd = 97 |longm = 27 |longs = 48 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 76513
area_code = 254
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-07492GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1351858GR|3
website =
footnotes =

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 CountyGR|6.

Belton is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Belton is located at coor dms|31|3|32|N|97|27|48|W|city (31.058904, -97.463382)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.2 square miles (34.1 km²), of which, 12.5 square miles (32.3 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.7 km²) of it (5.09%) is water.

Belton is just south of Temple and north of Salado on Interstate 35.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 14,623 people, 4,742 households, and 3,319 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,171.3 people per square mile (452.4/km²). There were 5,089 housing units at an average density of 407.6/sq mi (157.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.67% White, 8.10% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 14.83% from other races, and 2.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.13% of the population.

There were 4,742 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 18.4% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,052, and the median income for a family was $38,635. Males had a median income of $31,304 versus $20,678 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,345. About 12.7% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of Belton is served by the Belton Independent School District.Here is the list of schools:

* Belton High School, serves 9th through 12th grade
* Lake Belton Middle School, serves 6th through 8th grade
* Belton Middle School, serves 6th through 8th grade
* Southwest Elementary, serves 1st through 5th grade
* Leon Heights Elementary, serves 1st through 5th grade
* Joe M. Pirtle Elementary, serves 1st through 5th grade
* Miller Heights Elementary, serves 1st through 5th grade
* Tarver Elementary, serves 1st through 5th grade
* Lakewood Elementary, serves 1st through 5th grade
* Tyler Elementary, serves 1st through 5th grade
* Sparta Elementary, serves 1st through 5th grade

Notable residents

Belton is home to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, a university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. [ [http://www.umhb.edu/ The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor] ] [ [http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Page.aspx?&pid=278&srcid=897 Baptist General Convention of Texas - Supported Universities] ] As of 2006, UMHB has an enrollment of 2,790. [ [http://alumni.umhb.edu/resource/resmgr/docs/fall_magazine_06.pdf University of Mary Hardin-Baylor - Fall Magazine 2006] ]

The Bell County Expo Center is located in Belton and is the home of the CenTex Barracudas Indoor football team.

For recreation, Belton has two major lakes: Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake. There is also a water park, [http://www.summerfunwaterpark.com Summer Fun Water Park] . Another notable recreation point is [http://www.hoodmwr.com/lake_activities.htm BLORA] which is part of Ft. Hood and is located on Lake Belton

Actor George Eads grew up in Belton. He graduated from Belton High School in 1985.

Alternative rock band Flyleaf is from Belton.

Actor Rudy Youngblood of Mel Gibson's film, Apocalypto, graduated from Belton High School.

Musician Chris Marion of classic rock's Little River Band was born in Belton in 1962.

The town did not get a Wal-Mart Supercenter until 2005.

Rapper/Producer Noki Swazay hails from Belton and has a tattoo of the iconic Belton Water Tower on his right arm.

Henry T. Waskow, the basis of a famous article by Ernie Pyle, was a Belton native.

Historian and rancher J. Evetts Haley was born in Belton and is buried beside his first wife, Nita Stewart Haley, in the Moffat Cemetery. However, he spent most of his life in Midland and Canyon in West Texas.

Culture

Home of the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame housed in the Bell County Expo Center.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.ci.belton.tx.us/ Official website]
* [http://www.beltonjournal.com/ "The Belton Journal"] - Texas's oldest continuously published weekly newspaper (since 1866)
* [http://www.umhb.edu/ University of Mary Hardin-Baylor]
* [http://www.SeeBelton.com/ SeeBelton] - General info on Belton, including calendar of upcoming events
* [http://www.fbcbelton.org/ "First Baptist Church of Belton"] Geographic Location (8-way)
Centre =Belton
North =Temple, Texas
Northeast =
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South =Salado, Texas
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