The establishment of Fort Hood during World War II ushered in a period of rapid progress for Bell County. Its predominately agrarian identity was transformed into a modern, multidimensional economy focused on defense, health care, education, transportation, and heritage tourism. Beginning in the 1960s, the county experienced a population shift to the suburbs, and its numbers tripled, from 94,097 in 1960 to 310,235 in 2010. The Centroplex of Killeen, Belton, and Temple is one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas. In 2014, Killeen ranked 18th in the nation for growth. US News & World Report ranked Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple 10th among Texas hospitals for 2014–2015. Today, the culturally diverse population respects its history and anticipates a bright future for the county.
