Abilene, TX Area Guide

Abilene was first described as “the Future Great City of West Texas” and this phrase has since turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Located in the heart of Texas, Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties. Abilene itself is the county seat of Taylor County and is home to Dyess Air Force Base. Abilene’s population was 120,000 as of the 2008 census. A railroad runs through the center of Abilene and divides it into a north side and south side. The historic downtown area lies on the north side of Abilene’s railroad track.

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History
Abilene was established in March 1881 upon the completion of the Texas & Pacific Railroad. Several hundred people arrived in Abilene before the sale of town lots and began to establish businesses and a church. On January 2, 1883, the residents voted to incorporate, and in an election held on October 23, 1883, Abilene became the county seat. For the next 100 years Abilene developed from an almost entirely agricultural economy to a diversified economy based on oil, agriculture, commerce, light manufacturing, and service.

The modern era began for Abilene with the start of World War II. The acquisition of Camp Barkeley, a United States Army post, in 1940 changed virtually every aspect of the town. One and one-half million soldiers who spent some time at Barkeley and at the air base at Tye (established in 1943) brought millions of dollars into the local economy. After World War II civic leaders aggressively sought an air force base to maintain the flow of federal dollars, and Congress approved the establishment of Dyess Air Force Base in 1952. In the early 1960s Nike and Atlas missile installations and launching sites were built near the city, but they were phased out within three years. To learn more about Abilene’s rich history, please visit the city’s official website at:
http://www.abilenetx.com/about/history.htm

Abilene Attractions
Abilene is home to numerous attractions that draw visitors from all over the globe annually. Come and see the natural beauty Abilene possesses in one of the city’s many parks or spend an afternoon playing golf at one of Abilene’s many golf courses. There is sure to be something for every one of all ages and interests in Abilene.

Abilene, Texas – Official Tour Guide
http://www.abilenevisitors.com/

Abilene Zoo
http://www.abilenetx.com/Zoo/

Abilene State Park
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/abilene/

Buffalo Gap Historic Village
http://www.buffalogap.com/

Frontier Texas
http://www.frontiertexas.com/

Maxwell Golf Course
http://www.golfmaxwell.com/index.html

The Grace Museum
http://www.thegracemuseum.org/