Holland

Holland is at the intersection of State Highway 95 and Farm Road 2268, on Darrs Creek and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas line fifteen miles south of Temple in southeastern Bell County. Around 1874 James R. Holland settled on Darrs Creek near what is now the site of the community. In 1878 he built the first steam cotton gin in the southern part of the county. A post office named Holland opened there in 1879, and the railroad was built through the town soon thereafter. By 1884 the community shipped cotton and had a population of 300, several gins and mills, five general stores, four saloons, three hotels, a school, and a church. A Masonic lodge was organized in the town in 1885. By 1890 the population had doubled to 600, and Holland had four churches and a newspaper, the Guard