Harker Heights, Texas
Harker Heights is a city of 34,128 people in Bell County, Texas, founded in 1957.
Why visit Harker Heights
Townapedia lists 215 museums and landmarks, 17 parks and trails, 44 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cinemark, Killeen High School, Carl Levin Park and Dana Peak Park.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 97°F; January lows average 36°F.
Weather in Harker Heights
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Harker Heights
Harker Heights is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, 33,097 people resided in the city, up from a population of 17,308 in 2000. This makes Harker Heights the third-largest city in Bell County, after Killeen and Temple. Incorporated in 1960, the city derives its name from one of the two original landowners and founder, Harley Kern.
From the Wikipedia article Harker Heights, Texas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks215
Killeen High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
Historic place in Killeen, Bell County, Texas
203 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds17
5 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes44
Heights Pizzeria And Drafthouse
Restaurant · American, Pizza · 1.7 mi
201 #1460 East Central Texas Expressway
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Caffé Luna
Diner · American · 2.0 mi
110 Ste. B Farm-to-Market Road 2410
Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00; Sa 07:00-18:00
Papa's Cafe
Diner · American · 1.3 mi
302 Miller's Crossing, Harker Heights
06:00-21:00
The Local Sports Bar And Grill
Bar and pub · 2.8 mi
302 West Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Harker Heights
32 more on the map.
History
Harker Heights is located near Fort Hood, a major United States Army post that was designated a permanent military facility in 1950. As the post expanded, the surrounding civilian population increased. Water Control and Improvement District No. 4 was established on land near the Killeen city limits and the military post in 1955, and included the land owned by Pinckney R. Cox and Harley Kern, two hog farmers. These two men subdivided their land in 1957 and began selling lots. By 1960, between 600 and 700 of the lots had been developed and new residents supplied with water and other utility services. Following a petition for an incorporation election, the city was established on September 24, 1960, and Cox was elected mayor. Kern had died before the incorporation, and the Harker in Harker Heights was a concatenation of Harley Kern's name as a tribute to one of the original landowners. The town's boundaries expanded to include Forest Hills, Highland Oaks, and Comanche Hills. Cox, Sam Garth Jr., and Barney Sissom created GIASISCO Corporation, which was meant to help expand the town from 400 to 950 acres (160 to 380 ha).
From the History section of Harker Heights, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay9
Studio 7 Harker Heights
Motel and hotel · 2.3 mi
480 East Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Harker Heights
Churches and places of worship8
Saint Paul Chong Hasang Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.6 mi
1000 Knight's Way, Harker Heights
Central Union Church of Christ at Nolanville
Church · Church Of Christ · 2.7 mi
100 West Avenue G, Nolanville
Shopping11
Burlington
Shopping center · 1.7 mi
201 East Central Texas Expressway, Harker Heights
Gas and EV charging12
Casey's General Store
Gas station · 2.5 mi
133 West Central Texas Expressway, Nolanville
Schools, colleges and libraries46
Healthcare6
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights
Hospital · 2.5 mi
850 West Central Texas Expressway, Harker Heights
Map of Harker Heights
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 36°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 63°F | 40°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 70°F | 47°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 77°F | 54°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 84°F | 63°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 92°F | 70°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 96°F | 72°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 97°F | 73°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 90°F | 67°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 80°F | 56°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 69°F | 46°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 60°F | 38°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Killeen (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Bell County has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-05-17: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-02-19: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2021-02-14: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2008-09-10: Hurricane Ike (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Skylark Field (ILE) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.
- Killeen 5 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Belton 10 mi east, about 16 min by car
- Copperas Cove 17 mi west, about 27 min by car
- Georgetown 27 mi south, about 44 min by car
- Gatesville 27 mi north, about 44 min by car
- Round Rock 37 mi south, about 59 min by car
- Brushy Creek 38 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Cedar Park 39 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Waco 44 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Austin 53 mi south, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Avenue D School Killeen Texas, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
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