Heidenheimer

Heidenheimer is an unincorporated community in Bell County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 144 in 2000.[1] The community is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Heidenheimer is located at 31°01′06″N 97°18′10″W  /  31.01833°N 97.30278°W  / 31.01833; -97.30278 (31.0182372, -97.3027787). It is situated along U.S. Highway 190, approximately five miles southeast of Temple and fifty-one miles northeast of Austin in eastern Bell County.[2]

Heidenheimer grew up around the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway in 1881. The community was named in honor of S. Heidenheimer, a Galveston merchant, who had smuggled cotton for the Confederacy to British ships waiting outside of the blockaded city of Galveston, he also served as the railroad's director.[2] In 1884, Heidenheimer had 75 inhabitants and a few business. The local economy was dominated by the shipment of cotton, corn, and oats to other markets.[1] By 1896, the population rose to 225. Major businesses in the community included two gins, a hotel, saloon, lumber operation, and a newspaper (the Sun).[1] Heidenheimer School was the third largest rural school in Bell County with a total of 149 students and three teachers. The population peaked at 250 in 1925. That figure had declined to 125 by the late 1940s. A slight increase was registered by 1990, when 144 people lived in the community.

Heidenheimer's post office, first established in 1881, is still operational to date (zip code: 76533).[3]

Public education in the community of Heidenheimer is provided by the Academy Independent School District, which is based in the nearby city of Little River-Academy.

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