Belton is a city in, and the county seat of, Bell County, Texas, located in Central Texas along the Interstate 35 corridor between Waco and Austin. With roughly 26,000 residents, Belton anchors the southern part of the Killeen–Temple metropolitan area, a region shaped by Fort Cavazos and the long-standing presence of the military in Central Texas. The city's identity combines a historic courthouse-town core with a college-town character and easy access to two major reservoirs. Belton's downtown is built around an 1884 courthouse square, part of a historic district containing nearly 100 historic buildings. This walkable core, with its creek trail, local businesses, and community events, gives the city a rooted sense of place that distinguishes it from newer neighbors along the I-35 corridor. The city's planning emphasizes preserving that Main Street character while accommodating residential growth through a mix of subdivisions, townhomes, and in-town housing. Higher education is central to Belton's identity. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, is the oldest continuously operating college in the state and anchors the city's educational and cultural life. Temple College also serves the broader area, reinforcing the region's educational infrastructure. Public education is provided by Belton Independent School District, which covers about 199 square miles including Belton, Morgan's Point Resort, and part of Temple. Outdoor recreation is defined by Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake, two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs that provide boating, fishing, camping, and shoreline parks within minutes of the city. These lakes give Belton a distinct recreational draw among Central Texas county seats. Belton's transportation position is a key asset. Interstate 35 links the city north to Waco and the Dallas–Fort Worth area and south to Austin, San Antonio, and the rest of Central Texas, while Hill Country Transit District provides commuter bus connections to Temple, Killeen, Harker Heights, and Fort Cavazos. This combination of history, higher education, lakes, and highway access makes Belton a well-rounded place to live in the heart of Central Texas.