Killeen population climbing BY HOLDEN WILEN KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
Killeen’s population keeps on growing. City spokeswoman Hilary Shine said the most current census estimate has Killeen’s population at 138,154 in 2014, an increase of 10,233 people from the 2010 census. After surpassing the 130,000 mark in 2012 — nearly double what it was a decade before — the number has been expected to keep rising. The city’s growth and economy rely heavily on neighboring Fort Hood, one of the largest military installations in the world. “The state of Texas continues to
experience significant growth,” said City Manager Glenn Morrison. “Our centralized location and our proximity to Fort Hood continue to be the drivers when it comes to our increasing population.” Morrison, who will retire in April, said the city also continues to see an increasing number of non-military families moving to Killeen as well. “We are seeing more nonmilitaryconnected families locate to this area, and I believe it speaks to not only our central location in Texas but also our affordable cost of living,” he said. Shine said the latest estimates have Killeen’s population reaching 149,998 by 2020 and 178,292 for 2032. As the city grows, it will need to
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
As Killeen works to keep up with a growing population, the city has authorized several road projects, including streetscaping downtown.
< 2016 PROGRESS