Originally the area around what is now known as Bell was known at Cattle Creek, Jimbour Station and was part of a large land holding called Jimbour Station. In the 1870s the area was opened up for closer settlement and Angus & Christina McPhee from Scotland became the first European settlers nearest to what would become the village of Bell. Over time other families - including Bellingham, Bradley, Edwards, Ensor, McClelland Rush and Walker - settled in the vicinity of Cattle Creek and in 1878 a school was established at Maida Hill to cater for these families. The first use of "Bell" as a town name was in mid-1905 however it was still inter-changeable with Cattle Creek as a description of the general area. In April 1906 the Bell Branch railway line was opened linking to the main line at Dalby and at that same time 1,600 acres (650 ha) was resumed for the township and surveyed in to town allotments. The first land sales in Bell were in May 1906. The village was named after Sir Joshua Peter Bell who, at that time, was owner of Jimbour Station. The railway continued to operated until 1994.