Temple, Pennsylvania

Reading Time: 6 minutes

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Geographic Coordinates: 31.106800, -97.389100

Climate: Temperate climate with hot summers and cold winters, occasional thunderstorms and snowfall.

Population: 115809

Language: English

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Temple is a city located in Bell County, Texas, United States. It is situated in the heart of Central Texas and is approximately 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. With a population of over 78, 000 people as per the latest census data, Temple is one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas. The city boasts a rich history that dates back to the late 1800s when it was founded as a railroad town.

Today, Temple has evolved into an economic hub with an excellent transportation network that includes major highways such as Interstate 35 and US Highway 190. One notable attraction in Temple is the Scott & White Medical Center-Temple which serves as one of the largest employers in central Texas. The facility offers comprehensive medical services to residents from across central Texas and beyond. Another landmark attraction in Temple is The Santa Fe Railroad Depot Museum which showcases artifacts from early railroading days including vintage locomotives, Passenger cars, Cabooses among other exhibits.

Visitors can also take part in guided tours around this historic site to learn more about its significance to the development of modern-day Temple. Nature enthusiasts will find plenty to explore at Lake Belton which offers various recreational activities such as fishing, Boating, Swimming among others. The lake spans over 12 thousand acres making it one of Central Texas’ largest water bodies.

If you’re looking for some retail therapy or entertainment options then look no further than downtown Temple where you’ll find numerous shops selling everything from souvenirs to antiques alongside restaurants serving up local cuisine such as barbecue brisket and Tex-Mex fare. sports fans can catch some live action by attending games played by local teams like the Belton Tigers football team or watching professional baseball games featuring minor league teams affiliated with Major League Baseball franchises such as Round Rock Express or San Antonio Missions.

whether you’re looking for history-rich attractions or outdoor recreational activities, Temple has something to offer everyone. Its strategic location, Excellent transportation network, And a thriving economy make it an ideal destination for both residents and visitors alike.

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1. Santa Fe Depot Museum: This historic train station turned museum showcases the history of Temple and its railroad heritage.
2. Miller Springs Nature Center: This 260-acre natural area offers hiking trails, wildlife viewing opportunities, and picnic areas for visitors to enjoy.
3. Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum: This museum is dedicated to preserving the rich history of railroads in Texas and their impact on the development of Temple.
4. Bell County Expo Center: A multipurpose event venue that hosts concerts, rodeos, trade shows, and other events throughout the year.
5. Summer Fun Water Park: An amusement park with water slides, pools, lazy river tubing rides for families to enjoy during summer months.
6. Czech Heritage Museum & Genealogy Center: This museum displays artifacts related to Czech culture and history in Texas.
7. Lake Belton Dam (Belton Lake): The dam is a popular spot for fishing enthusiasts while Belton Lake offers opportunities for boating activities such as kayaking or paddleboarding.
8. Temple Civic Theatre – a community theatre that has been entertaining audiences since 1965 with plays performed by local actors.
9. Lions Junction Family Water Park – another family-friendly water park featuring multiple pools including a wave pool along with various slides.
10. Bell County Historical Commission – this organization works to preserve historical sites within Bell County which includes several locations within Temple itself.

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1. Healthcare
• Baylor Scott & White Health system
• Other hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities
2. Education
• Temple College
• Texas A&M University-Central Texas
3. Manufacturing
• Wilsonart International (laminate countertops)
• PPG Industries (paints and coatings)
• McLane Company (grocery distribution)
• Reynolds Consumer Products (foil products)
4. Retail
• Temple Mall
5. Agriculture
• Crops such as cotton, corn, wheat, and sorghum
6. Technology
• CGI Group Inc.
• Dell Technologies Inc.
• IBM Corporation
7. Transportation/Logistics
• Amazon.com’s fulfillment center

These industries contribute significantly to the tax base for local government services like schools or infrastructure improvements while providing employment opportunities for residents of Temple & surrounding areas.

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1. Santa Fe Railroad: In 1881, the Santa Fe Railroad founded Temple as a railroad town.
2. Scott & White Healthcare: Drs. Arthur C. Scott and Raleigh R. White Jr., established what is now known as Scott & White Healthcare in 1897, which has become one of the largest healthcare systems in Texas.
3. Temple College: Established in 1926, Temple Junior College was later renamed to Temple College.
4. Frank Wucinski: After World War II ended, Polish-American veteran Frank Wucinski settled in Temple and became an advocate for veterans’ rights.
5. Mary Alice Cranfill: Philanthropist Mary Alice Cranfill donated funds for constructing several buildings at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas; one of them being a children’s hospital named after her.
6. Sammons Cancer Center: The Harold C Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center was named after Harold Simmons who made significant donations to cancer research; he was an American businessman from nearby Anahuac.
7. Ralph Wilson Sr.: Ralph Wilson Sr., founder of Wilsonart International Inc., lived in Temple before moving his company headquarters to Austin.
8. Temple High School Shooting: On October 16th ,1992 Robert Wayne Harris entered into high school cafeteria with guns killing two students while injuring another ten people during the shooting incident at Temple High School

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1. Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum
2. Bell County Museum
3. Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center
4. Santa Fe Plaza Historic District
5. Miller Springs Nature Center
6. Sammons Park Golf Course
7. Summer Fun Water Park
8. Temple Civic Theatre
9. Salado Creek Winery & Vineyard
10. Wildflower Country Club

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1. Temple High School Football – The Temple Wildcats football team has a long and storied history dating back to 1907. They have won numerous district championships and made several deep playoff runs, including winning the state championship in 1979.
2. Temple College Baseball – The Temple College baseball team has been a consistent winner at the junior college level, making multiple appearances in the NJCAA World Series.
3. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Football – Although technically located in nearby Belton, Texas, UMHB is often considered part of the greater Temple area. The Crusaders football team has become one of the most dominant programs in NCAA Division III, winning three national championships since 2016.
4. Temple High School Girls’ Basketball – The Lady Wildcats basketball team has also had success over the years, winning multiple district titles and making deep playoff runs.
5. Central Texas Wolfpack Rugby Club – This local rugby club was founded in 2006 and competes against other teams throughout Texas and beyond. They have won several championships at various levels over the years.

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1. Bloomin’ Temple Festival: This annual festival celebrates the arrival of spring with live music, food vendors, carnival rides, and a parade.
2. Texas Early Music Festival: This festival showcases early music from the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods with performances by local and international musicians.
3. Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum Train Show: The museum hosts an annual train show featuring model railroads, vendors selling train-related merchandise, and demonstrations.
4. Central Texas State Fair: This fair features livestock shows, carnival rides, live entertainment, food vendors and more.
5. Cultural Activities Center International Festival: The CAC hosts an annual international festival celebrating the diverse cultures represented in Temple through dance performances, food booths and cultural exhibits.
6. Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference: This conference brings together writers of nonfiction for workshops on writing techniques and networking opportunities.
7. Juneteenth Celebration: Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in Texas with a parade through downtown Temple followed by music performances and family-friendly activities at Miller Park.
8. Czech Fest-Temple Polka Fest: Celebrating Czech heritage with traditional polka dancing as well as food booths serving up kolaches (a traditional pastry), sausage wraps and other Czech dishes.
9. Temple Symphony Orchestra Concerts – Annual series of classical concerts featuring guest soloists from around the world.
10. Harvest Fest – Annual Fall celebration including pumpkin patch activities such as hayrides, pumpkin picking, corn maze etc.

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• Miller’s Smokehouse – Known for their barbecue, brisket, ribs, and sides.
• Benny’s Ristorante Italiano – Offers authentic Italian dishes such as pasta, pizza, and seafood.
• Megg’s Cafe – A cafe that serves breakfast all day along with sandwiches and salads.
• The Gin at Nolan Creek – Fine dining restaurant that offers a variety of dishes including steak, seafood and vegetarian options.
• Thai Cafe – Offers traditional Thai cuisine such as pad thai, curries and stir-fry dishes.
• Pignetti’s Italian Restaurant – Authentic Italian restaurant that offers pizza, pasta dishes along with other entrees like chicken piccata or veal marsala.
• Pepe’s Tacos y Mas- Mexican restaurant known for its tacos al pastor , burritos , quesadillas , etc .
• Bigham’s Smokehouse- Barbecue joint known for its brisket , pulled pork , ribs etc .
• J & J Seafood- Seafood restaurant known for its fried catfish , shrimp baskets etc .
• La Riv Grill & Bar- Contemporary American fare including steaks & seafood plus cocktails in a chic setting

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Parks and Recreation

1. Lions Park offers a range of recreational activities, including basketball, tennis, volleyball, and a playground.
2. Miller Park is home to walking trails, picnic areas, fishing spots and a splash pad for kids.
3. Pepper Creek Trail is a scenic trail that runs alongside Pepper Creek and is perfect for hiking or biking.
4. Summer Fun Water Park is an attraction with slides, pools and other fun activities suitable for all ages.
5. Temple Lake Park is a gorgeous lakeside park that features boat ramps, fishing piers and picnic areas.
6. Wilson Park Pool is an outdoor pool that provides swimming lessons and lap swimming during the summer months.
7. West Temple Community Park has soccer fields, baseball diamonds and a playground for children to enjoy.
8. Sammons Golf Links is an 18-hole public golf course with challenging play in beautiful surroundings.
9. Frank W Mayborn Civic & Convention Center hosts various events throughout the year including concerts and trade shows.
10. Bell County Expo Center hosts various events throughout the year including rodeos, fairs, etc.

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