Every Wondered Where Deep In The ‘Heart Of Texas’ Is Located?

"The stars at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas," has been sung by many artists. Perhaps no version is more well known than that of Texas native, The Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry. We were just discussing the other day how the Killeen-Temple area is almost exactly the population center of Texas.

No matter where you live in Bell County, getting to the rural area of Sparks shouldn't take more than about 30 minutes or so, and that makes it super easy to visit the population center of Texas. Did you know you can take US 190 to get to the geographical center of Texas?

Would you believe it if I told you two different towns claim to be the "Heart of Texas?"

Do not worry, they don't feud over it like the Hatfields and the McCoys, but it is an interesting debate.

The town of Brady, which the seat of McCulloch County, literally call their self the "Heart of Texas" on a marker outside the courthouse because their town is 19.5 miles southwest of the state monument in their county marking the "Geographical center of Texas." However, the town of Brownwood, which is the seat of Brown County, also claims to be the heart because they are located 24 miles northeast of that marker.

19.5 miles vs. 24 miles, even I can do the math on this one, but NOT. SO. FAST. Turns out the state didn't put the geographical center of Texas marker in the actual geographical center.

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Well, why not?

The marker was placed about 500 yards north of The Heart of Texas Roadside Park on US Highway 377. The reason it wasn't placed in the exact geographical center is because that land is private property, and according to this article in TexasHighways.com, the actual center is more or less 6 one way, 1/2 a dozen the other to Brady and/or Brownwood.