About Abilene
Location
Abilene is located 150 miles west of the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex, on the eastern border of west Texas. Acting as the county seat of Taylor County, Abilene is situated off I-20 and is the medical, commercial and retail heart of “The Big Country”, a 19-county area from Brownwood, Tx to Benjamin, Tx.
Population
The population of the City of Abilene is listed as 115,930 according to the latest census. Taylor County has a total population of 126,555.
Education
Two independent school districts, Abilene Independent School District, and Wylie Independent School District, provide exceptional public education to the Abilene area. Abilene ranked as the 17th city in the nation for higher education in September/October of 2006. Further education is provided by several 4-year degree institutions including Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University. Abilene also has a branch of Cisco Junior College, a satellite campus of Texas Tech University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Dyess AFB and the American Commercial College.
Attractions
Abilene has a culture representative of it's historic past, but still offers much in terms of contemporary entertainment. Several family attractions are present including the Abilene Zoo, The Grace Museum, and the Buffalo Gap Historic Village. Several more popular historic attractions include the Paramount Theatre, fully restored from the 1930s, and Frontier Texas! which allows visitors to relive the Old West with the help of state-of-the-art technology. For more attractions and information please visit the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau or call at (800) 727-7704.
Recreation & Health
There is much to do recreationally in Abilene due in part to the wonderful park system comprised of 26 city parks. Abilene also offers a city zoo with animals ranging from antelope and giraffes to elephants and even a reptile area. Abilene has 4 public golf courses in town along with many recreational softball fields, a public owned skate park and even 2 city-owned lakes.
The Hendrick Health System, located in the heart of Abilene, is second to none. Hendrick offers a wide range of services ranging from prenatal and birthing services to retirement living and hospice care. Besides Hendrick Health System, Abilene has 2 additional hospitals serving Abilene and the surrounding Big Country.
