Coryell County is located in Central Texas. It is square in shape and has an area of about 1,057 square miles, or 676,249 acres. Gatesville, the county seat, is near the center. In 1990 according to the Bureau of the Census, the population of the county was 64,213.

Coryell County is in the Grand Prairie region of Texas. The Leon River flows through the center of the county. Topographically, the county consists of an undulating dissected limestone plain underlain by hard limestone on the higher ridges and softer limestone and marly clay on the rolling hills and plateaus.

About 187,000 acres of Coryell County is within the boundaries of the Ft. Hood Military Reservation. Ft. Hood has the largest concentration of tanks and armored vehicles in the world. There are two armored divisions and numerous support units.

The major agricultural land uses in Coryell county are cattle ranching, farming, and pecan production. In 1983, about 74 percent of the county was rangeland, 12 percent was cropland, 10 percent was pastureland and hayland, and 4 percent was urban and built-up areas.

There are 27 kinds of soil in Coryell County. The soils vary widely in texture, depth, reaction, natural drainage, and other characteristics. Slopes, depth to bedrock, and natural fertility are major factors which influence agricultural uses of the soils.

Coryell County was originally part of Mexico. After the Revolution, Ft. Gates was established in 1849 to protect the settlers from Indian raids. In 1854, the Texas Legislature authorized the creation of Coryell county, made up of parts of Milam and Bell Counties. The county was named in honor of James Coryell, a hero of the Texas Revolution.

Between 1850 and 1880, open range conditions caused problems between farmers and cattle ranchers. One of the Feeder Routes of the Chisholm Trail crossed Coryell County, intensifying the conflict. Indian raids continued to plague farmers and ranchers until 1871.

In 1882, the railroad came to Coryell County. One railroad came to Gatesville from Waco, and another railroad crossed the southwestern corner of the county at Copperas Cove. The coming of the railroad, the use of barbed wire, the establishment of cotton gins, and the introduction of well drilling brought about an agricultural boom for Coryell County.

At the beginning of World War II, almost 187,000 acres of Coryell County was incorporated into Ft. Hood. Although most of Ft. Hood is used for intensive military training, most areas are available at time for cattle grazing.

About 499,444 acres in Coryell County is in farms that are used for the production of crops an livestock. In addition, most of the Ft. Hood and Belton reservoir areas is leased to farmers and ranchers for grazing livestock. Both areas are also used for recreation, providing good hunting and fishing.

Coryell County has two main streams, the Leon River and Cowhouse Creek. The Leon River runs through the center of the county, from the northwest to the southeast. It begins in Eastland County and runs through Comanche, Erath, and Hamilton counties before entering Coryell County. Since the completion of Proctor Lake, in Comanche County, the water flow has become steady, and the hazard of flooding has been reduced. Cowhouse Creek heads in Hamilton County and is intermittent in flow.

Wildlife is abundant in Coryell county. Deer, turkey, and quail are common in most areas of the county. Improved range and pasture conditions have greatly enhanced habitat for all wildlife.

Coryell County has a large supply of limestone rock. The rock taken from quarries in the county is used as building and road material and for cement.

Coryell County is hot in summer. In winter, occasional surges of cold air cause a sharp drop in otherwise mild temperatures. Rainfall is uniformly distributed throughout the year, reaching a slight peak in spring. Total annual precipitation is normally adequate for cotton, feed grains, and small grains.

In winter the average temperature is 49 degrees F. and the average daily minimum temperature is 36 degrees.

The total annual precipitation is 34 inches. Of this, 19 inches, or 55 percent, usually falls in April through September. The growing season for most crops falls within this period. In 2 years out of 10, the rainfall in April through September is less than 13 inches. Thunderstorms occur on about 45 days of each year, and most occur in summer. The average seasonal snowfall is 2 inches.

The average relative humidity in midafternoon is about 55 percent. Humidity is higher at night, and the average at dawn is about 80 percent. The sun shines 75 percent of the time possible in summer and 50 percent in winter. The prevailing wind is from the south.

Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms occur occasionally. These storms are local and of short duration, and the pattern of damage is variable and spotty.