Founded in 1850, Belton grew as a trading center for nearby farms and ranches. Its merchants made the city a favorite rest stop for cowboys herding longhorns up the Chisholm Trail. Visitors can explore exciting exhibits that document the county’s settlement and ranching history at the Bell County Museum, housed in part in the restored 1904 Carnegie Library. Out front, the Chisholm Trail Monument’s 17 bronze panels tell the stories of little-known characters and describe the daily lives of the drovers.