Temple (Images of America)

The Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad founded the town of Temple in 1881. Named in honor of the railroad’s chief engineer, B. M. Temple, the town lies in the finest agriculture belt in Texas. Prior to the arrival of the railroad, farmers of Bell County transported cotton, grain, and produce to the nearest railroad terminus at Waco, Cameron, Calvert, or Rockdale on a difficult three-day trip. Moving these goods became much easier with the arrival of the railroad, and Temple became an important center for trade. By 1912, Temple was the most important revenue-producing station on the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad south of Kansas City. Early on, the railroad established a hospital for employees, and by 1900, there were three hospitals: St. Mary’s Sanitarium, Santa Fe, and King’s Daughters. Temple’s importance as a trade center contributed to an early and sustained population growth. The city of Temple promotes the community’s history with the annual Pioneer Day celebration.