Harker Heights is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census there were 26,700 people, 9,488 households, and 7,139 families residing in the city, up from a population of 17,308 in 2000. This makes Harker Heights the third largest city in Bell County, after Killeen and Temple. Incorporated in 1960, the city derives its name from one of the two original landowners and founder, Harley Kern. Harker Heights is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area. People usually refer to the town as just "Heights".