05/21/2026
Since 1981, the Texas Main Street Program has helped preserve and revitalize historic downtowns across Texas. The program has helped 177 communities generate $6.5 billion in reinvestment, create 50,000 jobs, and launch nearly 13,000 small businesses by combining historic preservation with smart economic development.
Two towns have now earned that distinction. City of Killeen, Texas - Government, founded in 1881 as a railway stop and later transformed by the establishment of Fort Hood, brings a rich military and agricultural legacy to the program. City of Borger, born from an oil boom in the Texas Panhandle, has grown from its famously wild early days into a vital hub for oil, petrochemical production, and agriculture. Both cities completed the First Street Initiative to earn their official Texas Main Street designation from the Texas Historical Commission (THC).
This milestone also carries on a cherished tradition. Since February 1981, Texas First Ladies have toured Main Street communities to celebrate their historic assets and community pride—a partnership between the Governor's office, the THC, and towns across the state that has endured for decades.
That tradition continues: the Texas First Lady will soon visit Killeen and Borger to mark the beginning of their Texas Main Street journey. We can't wait to celebrate what's ahead for these two remarkable communities!
Learn more about the Texas Main Street Program at thc.texas.gov/mainstreet
📸: 1. Current First Lady, Cecilia Abbott, speaking during the Granger ceremony in 2019. 2. Laura Bush visited La Grange during the Texas First Lady's tour in 1996.
