Abilene, TX

Located in central West Texas, Abilene is 180 miles west of Dallas/Forth Worth. This mid-sized city offers its 116,000 residents a full-featured, community-centered lifestyle, with 26 parks and 2 city-owned lakes, an orchestra, a zoo, and plenty of events and cultural opportunities. Three well-regarded private liberal arts schools (Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, and McMurry University) make Abilene a center of higher education in the region.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Historically, Abilene's economy grew up on cattle, railroads and oil. Today, however, the city benefits from a diverse business base and multiple sources of revenue. Some of the major contributors are:

• Dyess Air Force Base, employing several thousand military and civilian personnel
• Tourism, which brings more than 450,000 visitors to Abilene each year and accounts for more than $350 million in revenue
• Major employers, such as Hendrick Health System, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the Abilene School District
• Higher education, which provides employment and contributes to the economy through student spending and parent visits

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The population for Abilene is more than 116,000 of which about 96 percent is urban. The city accommodates about 45,500 houses of which about 41,500 are occupied. Out of these occupied houses, owners occupy about 24,300 houses and renters occupy about 17,000 houses.

Downtown Abilene is the business and financial center of the city. Four multi-level downtown financial buildings house banks and public corporations. This area is also home to Abilene City Hall, the Taylor County Courthouse, and the offices of state and national politicians.

Abilene is a fairly walkable city and visitors can roam around easily. Most of the grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops and bars are located within a mile from the center of the city.

EVENTS

• Western Heritage Classic: Real cowboys from working ranches throughout the state participate in this weekend-long festival. The event includes competitions in riding, roping and cutting, wild-cow milking, and a chuck-wagon cook-off. The world's largest bit and spur show and a western art show are some of the other activities.
• West Texas Fair and Rodeo: The Taylor County Expo Center is the venue for this annual event that includes exhibits, competitions, livestock shows, live entertainment, and a carnival.
• ArtWalk: Sponsored by the Center for Contemporary Art, this monthly activity gives attendees a chance to enjoy visual and performing art for free.
• City Sidewalks: This Christmas festival includes music, a parade, and a gingerbread house competition. Downtown business owners pass out free goodies such as snacks, candy, and books.
• Festival of the Americas: The event celebrates Latin American history and culture while raising money for scholarships.

FOR VISITORS

• Frontier Texas!: This family-friendly museum features multimedia exhibits on the Texas frontier from 1780 to 1880.
• Abilene Zoo: The zoo has 500 animals representing 200 species.
• 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum: The museum is a tribute to the 12th Armored Unit that fought in World War II and is responsible for ending the war in Austria. Nicknamed the Hellcats, the division was recognized as a liberating unit by the Army's Center of Military History and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1988.
• Fort Phantom: This free attraction is part of the Texas Fort Trail and features the ruins of an 1851 army post. The 22-acre site includes three original stone buildings, a stone guardhouse, and a warehouse.
• Cypress Street: Shopping, dining, and other entertainment can be found on this main thoroughfare in the downtown area.
• Buffalo Gap Historic Village: This living history museum tells the story of the Texas frontier from 1875 to 1925. The village includes interactive sites such as a two-room schoolhouse and displays of artifacts such as an Indian arrowhead, weapons, medical instruments, and old-fashioned cars.
• Grace Museum: An art museum, history museum, and children's museum are housed in the Grace Hotel in downtown Abilene.

• The art gallery occupies the first and second floors and specializes in international artwork in various mediums. The centerpiece of the permanent collection is Edward Weiss' Grace Notes, an interactive sculpture that allows patrons to make music with colorful wooden blocks.
• The history museum shows life in Abilene from 1910 to 1948, through displays of historic documents, artifacts, photographs, and restored period rooms.
• The children's museum caters to kids as young as toddlers and features interactive exhibits on science topics, such as the human body and mechanical systems.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• The Paramount Theater is home to Abilene's visual arts, including the Abilene Opera Association, the Abilene Ballet Theater, The Celebration Singers, Chameleon Performing Arts Company, and the Abilene Performing Arts Company. The theater host films, concerts, and theatrical performances throughout the year. The 1,199-seat building was constructed in 1930 and restored in 1986. An estimated 50,000 visitors take in a performance at the Paramount annually.
• The Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra started in 1950 as the Abilene Symphony. The orchestra plays a full season of classical and pops concerts from September through May. Performances are held on Saturdays at the Abilene Civic Center.
• The Center for Contemporary Art is a free museum with four galleries. Each gallery has a specific emphasis such as photography, solo and group exhibits, and artwork from the members of the Center for Contemporary Art. The museum also sponsors art classes and camps.
• The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature honors the best in children's literature and has 25 works in its permanent collection in addition to rotating exhibits. The center hosts artist meet-and-greets, free family activities on weekends, and a summer camp for children ages 5 to 11.

GETTING AROUND

Abilene Regional Airport provides commercial airline service on American Eagle to Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport. City Link provides 12 fixed bus routes throughout the city, including trolley buses that service downtown.

LOCAL MEDIA

Two daily newspapers, the Abilene Reporter News and the Dallas Morning News, are available in Abilene. Four TV stations and six FM radio stations broadcast here.