Belton, Texas
Belton, Texas is the county seat of Bell County, one of the fastest growing areas in Texas. Centrally located at the crossroads of Interstate 35 and Highway 190, Belton is approximately 55 miles north of Austin, the state capitol. In 2009, Belton was home to 17,295 people according to the U.S. Census Bureau, up from 14,623 people in 2000.
Founded in 1850 on the banks of Nolan Creek, Belton was an important stop on the Chisholm Trail, a major cattle drive route. Belton’s National Historic District, including the beautifully restored Carnegie Library Building, is now home to the Bell County Museum, which showcases the heritage of Belton and Bell County. Belton's historic downtown is home to numerous specialty and antique shops, the historic Bell County Courthouse, and Texas’ oldest family owned department store, Cochran, Blair & Potts.
World War II and the arrival of Fort Hood, which is 18 miles west of Belton, brought growth and prosperity to Belton, which continues to this day. In addition to the vital role Fort Hood plays in Belton's economy, the largest employers of Belton residents are the city of Belton, Bell County, and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. There are four industrial parks located in Belton, providing manufacturing and distribution jobs.
Healthcare in Belton is provided by Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas, which serves all of central Texas with its Level I Trauma Center and is the only designated Level I Trauma Center between Dallas and Austin treating serious personal injuries. In addition, Scott and White operates the Belton Clinic. Also located in Belton is the Cedar Crest Hospital and Residential Treatment Center, a private, non-profit facility that provides psychiatric, substance abuse, and behavioral treatment to children ages 4-18 throughout central Texas. The main campus houses a 20-bed acute hospital, a 50-bed residential treatment center, and an accredited charter school program.
Recreation opportunities in Belton include the 11,830-acre Belton Lake, a fishermen's and boaters' haven, and Stillhouse Hollow Lake. The Bell County Exposition Center hosts indoor rodeos, the Central Texas State Fair, concerts, and a variety of other events for the enjoyment of the community.
District courts are the primary trial courts in Texas as state trial courts of general jurisdiction. The Texas Constitution also provides for a county court in each of Texas's 254 counties. Each county in Texas is divided according to population into at least one and not more than eight justice precincts.
The Bell County District Courts Center in Belton is home to the 27th District Court, 146th District Court, 169th District Court, 264th District Court, and 426th District Court.
Justice courts generally have exclusive jurisdiction of civil matters, including personal injury lawsuits, only when the amount in controversy does not exceed $200. Generally, the county courts have concurrent jurisdiction with justice courts in civil cases where the matter in controversy exceeds $200 but does not exceed $10,000 and concurrent jurisdiction with the district courts in civil cases where the matter in controversy exceeds $500 but does not exceed $5,000. The district courts have jurisdiction in civil matters with a minimum monetary limit but no maximum limit. The fourteen Texas Courts of Appeals handle most of Texas’ civil appeals from the district and county-level courts, while the Texas Supreme Court has statewide, final appellate jurisdiction in most civil cases.
The Guide to Texas Legislative Information provides brief definitions of terms associated with the legislative process to help you understand the terms you may hear in court.
