History and Demographics

Long before the establishment of Abilene in 1881, Comanche Indians thrived in this portion of Texas. Then, in the mid 1800’s the U.S. Army established Ft. Phantom. American settlers were not far behind. The first big town in Taylor County was Buffalo Gap, but when the Texas & Pacific Railroad built thru north Texas, they decided to bypass them and built where land was cheaper. Those tracks that now separate North 1st and South 1st are the reason Abilene is the Big Country Mecca, and Buffalo Gap is an historical and sleepy town.

Around this same time, Abilene was advertised to would-be citizens living in eastern states as “one of the most beautiful, fertile and healthy sections of ‘The West.’” Many of the early immigrants were disappointed to find conditions upon arrival more arid than advertised, and Abilene was exceptionally slow to grow during its first half-century.

With the exception of Abilene residents breaking into the Buffalo Gap Courthouse to steal the County Seal in 1883, Abilene has incubated a conservative approach to civil life over the years.

You may notice a general aversion to boozing among the citizenry of Abilene. This too can be traced thru history. Anti-drinking sentiments seem to have come to a head in 1884 when two drunk men began a bar fight that ended with one of them being shot dead. In response to this outrage, prohibitionists began the campaign to have Abilene declared a dry town. (For those of you not from Texas, a “dry” town is one in which the sale of alcohol is prohibited by law.) Abilene was legally dry from 1903 until 1978; long before the nation’s official Prohibition began with the 18^th Amendment (1919), and long after it was repealed by the 21^st Amendment (1933).

This is Texas, however, and the free-spirited cowboy culture was alive and well. While Abilene was waiting those extra forty-five years to lift its ban on the sale of alcohol, the town of Impact was established. It was only as big as a city block—surrounded by Abilene on all sides—but it was a legally-separate municipality. Impact is historically notable because it did allow for the sale of alcohol within its “city limits.” (Thus making Impact a “wet” township.) Although Abilene has now lifted its prohibition on alcohol sales, many of surrounding towns continue to be dry, even today.

Abilene’s conservative, slow-to-change mindset has manifested elsewhere as well. For example, "The Roaring Twenties" brought with it a population boom that more than doubled the size of the city--to a whopping 21,000 people! It also brought a surge in what was perceived as the un-Christian hedonism (drinking, dancing, sex, etc.) that has become a marquee characteristic of the period. Reactionary-conservative sentiments grew so strong that the city council passed legislation in 1925 levying a $200 fine on any man caught staring at, whistling at, or otherwise flirting with a woman in public. Again in 1955, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the separate but equal doctrine in Brown vs. Board of Education, Abilene was slow to accept the cultural changes. Abilene schools did not integrate until 1968—fourteen years after the ruling.

While Abilene is an increasingly modern city with big-box retailers and chain restaurants, don’t expect to see any of the latest social doctrines taking root and flourishing here. Abilene holds affectionately to days gone by. This is a friendly place—where conservative piety and family values are a treasured status quo. While this might seem a hindrance to the college freshmen seeking radical new worlds of possibility, it often becomes one of the town’s most charming characteristics by the time he graduates.

Statistically Speaking

The 2000 Census showed the median age of Abilene’s population to be around 30. Approximately 60% of the city’s population is white, 19% is Hispanic and nearly 9% is black. Despite boasting a half dozen colleges and universities, only a quarter of the population over 25 has ever received a bachelor’s degree.

The median household income is $33,000 (compared with the nearly $42,000 national average). At the same time, Abilene boasts a cost of living 10 percentage points below average and a median home value under $65,000. Thus, though salaries aren’t as high here as in other parts of the country, they don’t always need to be.

The hottest month of the year is August, when highs are in the 90 degrees-plus range. Technically, the coldest month is December, when it usually reaches the teens several times and occasionally snows.

As you walk around outside, you will normally notice a wind blowing over the plains. The average speed is right at 12 miles per hour—which means small trees are almost constantly being nudged to and fro. Don't expect your car to stay clean more an a couple hours. It is interesting that once you have lived here a while, it almost feels eerie when you visit somewhere without a breeze.