Killeen (kĭlēnˈ) [key], city (1990 pop. 63,535), Bell co., central Tex., in a ranching and cotton region; inc. 1893. The city has varied manufacturing, but adjacent Fort Hood is the major source of employment. Founded in 1882 and named for a Santa Fe RR official, Killeen remained a small farming and ranching village until the establishment (1942) of Camp Hood. The camp's redesignation (1950) as a fort with a permanent status spurred population growth in the city. Nearby Belton and Stillhouse Hollow lakes provide recreational facilities.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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