Nestled along South Nolan Creek in Bell County, the city of Nolanville, Texas is more than just a dot on the map—it’s a living chronicle of resilience, reinvention, and community spirit. Once known as Nolan Valley, the town took its current name in 1883, honoring Philip Nolan, a daring Irish-American mustanger whose expeditions into Texas helped shape early frontier life.

By the late 1800s, Nolanville was bustling with mill-gins, churches, and a school, and even boasted its own newspaper, The Item, by 1896. The town’s early telephone lines—strung along barbed wire—are a testament to its ingenuity. Though its population dipped after World War II, Nolanville rebounded in the 1960s, eventually becoming a vibrant suburban community within the Killeen–Temple–Fort Cavazos metro area.

One of the city’s most cherished historical touchstones is the Nolanville Encampment, a spiritual gathering that began in 1889 under a brush arbor. For over a century, families camped, cooked, and worshipped together in what became a cornerstone of the Church of Christ’s development in Central Texas.

KNCT’s Hobby Memorial Library Update with Cindy Oser, airing every Tuesday at 6:15 PM, continues this tradition of community enrichment. From author talks to scholarship workshops, Cindy brings listeners the latest from the Oveta Culp Hobby Memorial Library—a hub of learning and connection on the Central Texas College campus. Her most recent update discussed Nolanville’s legacy.

Whether you’re tuning in for Cindy’s latest segment or strolling through Monarch Park, Nolanville invites you to be part of its unfolding story—a tale that blends frontier grit with modern grace.