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Physical Features: Leon Valley in center, remainder rolling, hilly; Belton Lake.

Economy: Fort Hood, prisons, agribusiness, manufacturing.

History: Tonkawa area, later various other tribes. Anglo-Americans settled around Fort Gates in late 1840s. Permanent establishment of Fort Hood in 1950 changed cultural geography. County created from Bell County, organized, 1854; named for local pioneer James Coryell.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 57.9; Black, 17.7; Hispanic, 18.7; Asian, 2.1; Other, 2.1; Two or more races, 4.5.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 1,045; deaths, 526; marriages, 474; divorces, 305.

Recreation: State park; deer hunting; fishing; lake, Leon River; bluebonnet area; historic homes; log jail; Shivaree in June.

Minerals: Oil and gas.

Agriculture: Beef, forages, oats, wildlife, row crops. Market value $36.3 million. Hunting leases, timber.

GATESVILLE (14,615) county seat; prisons, varied manufacturing; hospital; refurbished courthouse; museum; branch Central Texas College.

COPPERAS COVE (32,546) business center for Fort Hood; industrial filters, other manufacturing; hospital, library; Central Texas College; Spurfest in September.

Other towns include: Evant (404, partly in Hamilton County), Flat (210), Jonesboro (125), Mound (125), Oglesby (438), Purmela (50), South Mountain (364). Part [14,415] of Fort Hood.

The Coryell County Courthouse in Gatesville. Photo by Robert Plocheck.