Central Texas · Relocation Guide
Living in Gatesville, Texas
A local REALTOR’s guide to the Spur Capital of Texas
A local REALTOR’s guide to the Spur Capital of Texas
Gatesville is the Coryell County seat, on the Leon River where US 84 and SH 36 cross. Waco, Temple and Killeen are each about 30 minutes away, Austin about an hour and the Dallas–Fort Worth area about two. That puts city jobs, hospitals and airports within reach while you live where land is still affordable.
The town grew up around Fort Gates, an 1849 Army post a few miles away, and today it has a classic courthouse square and a museum with the world’s largest spur collection, which is why the Legislature named Gatesville the Spur Capital of Texas in 2001. Fort Hood’s training lands fill the southern part of the county, and Mother Neff State Park is a short drive east.
I’m Loni Jones, a REALTOR with Niche Real Estate, licensed since 2008, and Gatesville is home. I help buyers find everything from a house in town to ranch land out in the county and know the back roads, water companies and zoning questions that come with rural property. I put this guide together with sources for every number, so you can share it with the people you’re moving with.
Gatesville’s Census totals include the people housed in its state prison units, which skews some city-level figures; the county numbers give a fuller picture. Home values are Census survey figures, not today’s asking prices. For current prices, ask Loni for recent sales.
A starter list. For events and more ideas, see the Gatesville Chamber of Commerce and the City of Gatesville community events page.
Gatesville’s claim to fame: Lloyd and Madge Mitchell’s collection of more than 10,000 spurs, the largest in the world, including pairs linked to Pancho Villa and Jacqueline Kennedy. It’s the reason the Texas Legislature named Gatesville the Spur Capital of Texas in 2001. The museum also hosts Spurfest, an annual day devoted to spurs.
| Where | Coryell Museum & Historical Center, 718 E. Main St. |
| Hours | Wednesday–Saturday, 10am–4pm |
| Collection | 10,000+ spurs |
| Phone | (254) 865-5007 |
Hours, dates and seasons change. Check each official site before you go.
Coryell County runs from the Leon River ranch country around Gatesville down to Copperas Cove on the edge of Fort Hood. Buyers usually weigh school district, commute and how much land they want. Here’s a quick look at the places buyers ask Loni about most.
Whether you want a house in town, a few acres outside Gatesville or a working ranch, Loni lives here and can help you compare areas, schools and taxes before you make an offer.
Moving with family or a partner? Send them this guide so you’re all looking at the same information.
Figures are from the sources listed, with years noted, and were checked November 2026. Tax rates, utility fees, event dates, and attraction hours and seasons change; confirm with the source. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Coryell County Courthouse photo: “The Coryell County Courthouse in Gatesville, Texas” by Carol M. Highsmith, Lyda Hill Texas Collection, Library of Congress; public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; resized.