The automobile caused Nolanville businesses to decline because it made the trip to Belton or Killeen so much easier.

By the mid-1940s, the community had 150 to 200 residents, but began to decline after the end of World War II.

After dropping to 50 inhabitants in the 1950s, the town began to revive in the 1960s and had 200 residents and six businesses when it incorporated on March 27, 1961.

By the late 1960s Nolanville was caught up in the expansion of the Killeen-Fort Cavazos area, and, as a suburban community, its population rose to 740 in 1968.

Nolanville was featured in a 1970s 60 Minutes episode, which exposed creative law enforcement practices.

Special events include the Annual Fox Trot 5K and Train Whistle Jamboree.

Nolanville is located in west-central Bell County and is bordered by the city of Harker Heights on the south and west.

Highway 190, a four-lane freeway, passes through Nolanville, leading east 8 miles (13 km) to Interstate 35 in Belton and west 13 miles (21 km) to the entrance to Fort Cavazos at the western edge of Killeen.

[5] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

[6] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,917 people, 2,009 households, and 1,417 families residing in the city.