A growing hub in Central Texas for government jobs and travel sports
Gatesville, the government seat of Coryell County, is home to approximately 16,000 sporty residents with few degrees of separation from government. Although roughly 30 miles north of the nation's largest active-duty military base, the state government is actually Gatesville's largest employer due to several correctional facilities closer to town, not to mention public schools and Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), which each employ thousands of residents. With its well-insulated job market and relatively affordable home prices, Gatesville is poised to grow alongside its burgeoning travel sports tourism sector. "We're seeing the park traffic picking up," says Parks and Recreation Director Seth Phillips. "There's more people coming here. Businesses are wanting to come here. And just last night at the council meeting, they approved a 55-plus community that's going to come to our community soon. So, it's growing. It's definitely growing."
Traditional ranch homes can be found all throughout Gatesville.
The Linda Woodman State Jail employs many of Gatesvilles residents.
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Military, public sector and manufacturing jobs aplenty
Aside from public sector jobs, manufacturing jobs at Kalyn Seibert and Laerdal form the second-largest workforce in Gatesville, followed by healthcare jobs at Coryell Health. Some residents commute out of the city, either to Fort Cavazos or nearby hub cities like Waco. U.S. Highway 84 forms Gatesville's primary connection with Waco 38 miles east. State Highway 36 is the primary north-south route, connecting with Temple 35 miles southeast. Gatesville is actively investing in its infrastructure, including road improvements at low water crossings, bridge replacements and new signage, plus additional upgrades to city services. "One example is our planned resolution for increased sewer capacity on the south side of town," says city officials Holly Owens and Bradfort Hunt. "The main goal is to focus on sustainable development, both residential and commercial, to ensure long-term viability and to maintain the historical charm Gatesville has to offer."
Gatesville is just a few miles North of Fort Cavazos.
Highway 36 runs right through Gatesville, Texas.
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Downtown rehabs alongside newer and established subdivisions
Buyers coming from Waco and Temple are enticed by a comparably lower median single-family home price of $242,000. Development is occurring fast as established homes in the downtown area get renovated while new subdivisions keep cropping up all over town. Newer and established subdivisions alike, such as Cedar Bluff and Greenbrier Estates, tend to be outside of the city. Further out are numerous land plots typically ranging from $8,000 to $25,000 per acre.
Downtown beautification and park upgrades help attract travel sports tourism
In 2024, Gatesville leaders applied to make the city's downtown a state-recognized historic district – a major step in the ongoing revitalization process. Cleanups and beautification projects, like those done by Keep Gatesville Beautiful, have helped breathe some life back into the central square of businesses and museums surrounding a historic courthouse. East of that, Main Street continues with businesses like Mexican cantinas and thrift stores, as well as some supermarkets like H-E-B. The far east side of town has seen numerous hotels pop up in the last few years alongside improvements at the city's sports complex next door, which hosts many competitions throughout the year, attracting out-of-towners who come to visit downtown attractions between games.
Sports complex upgrades make rec sports more accessible
Upgrades to shading, sidewalks and lighting at Lions Club Park's sports complex have made the city's ever-popular rec sports matches a more comfortable experience. "We host a baseball and softball league that normally has around 600 kids," Phillips says. "We host youth soccer, and normally, it has around 500 kids. And we host youth flag football, which has around 200 kids." The city is also restoring Faunt Le Roy Park after a major flood in 2024. "It did some major damage to the banks, it messed up the electricity down there, it messed up the plumbing, the restroom facilities – all that was under water," Phillips says.
Lions Club Park offers 6 different baseball fields to pick from.
Enjoy the sunny days of Gatesville at one of the many parks.
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Community mixers and holiday Boozaar's
Small events and programs happen all throughout the week, including mystery book clubs at the local public library and community meet and greets. Larger events happen around major holidays like Halloween, when the city hosts its annual Boozaar downtown, featuring a trick-or-treating trail and costume contest. A Christmas tree lighting ceremony is also a popular annual tradition with downtown crowds.
Welcome to the central Texas city of Gatesville.
The City of Gatesville City Hall and Municipal Court is located right on East Main Street.
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Career and technical education available at Gatesville ISD
The city is zoned for Gatesville ISD, which has a B-minus Niche rating and serves roughly 2,700 students across 5 schools. The district runs a number of specialty programs, including individual and specialized instruction, and a career and technical education program offering industry certifications in welding, veterinary sciences, agriculture and more.
Gatesville Elementary School is highly rated.
The Hornets represent the Gatesville High School.
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Riverine flooding and water conservation
Gatesville's climate is prone to occasional tornados and summer heat that frequently exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot, dry summers commonly lead to droughts, which elevate the likelihood of other hazards like wildfires and flash floods on the Leon River. Thus, water conservation is a central part of life in Gatesville, but according to Owens and Hunt, the city retains "enough water rights to allow for many sustainable years of growth in housing and commercial development. That said, we are always cautious with the water supply, and we consider potential impacts with each submission for development."
FBI data shows declining rates of property and violent crime in Gatesville. Although there was a recent spike in robberies in 2023, the rate has since declined back below state and national figures.
Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Wyatt Stueve
Video By
Logan Cox
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