Temple, Texas was founded in 1881 when that area had won the infamous “railroad war” between them and the newly formed Belton. Both towns wanted the valued railroad stop and Temple won that debate. Subsequently they incorporated in 1882, being named after railroad official, engineer, and former surveyor Bernard Temple.
Today, Temple is a bustling city boasting a population of around 70,000 and some of the area’s largest employers, including Scott & White Hospital and some large manufacturing concerns. With the railroad stop in town and being located on the I-35 corridor, Temple has enjoyed steady growth over the years. Nowadays they still compete with Belton, but its on Friday nights with the heated rivalry of their high school football teams.