Abilene, Texas

Abilene
City
Downtown Abilene
Downtown Abilene
Flag of Abilene
Flag
Nicknames: 
  • "The Key City"
  • "The Friendly Frontier"
Map
Map
Map
Map
Abilene is located in Texas
Abilene
Abilene
Abilene is located in the United States
Abilene
Abilene
Abilene is located in North America
Abilene
Abilene
Coordinates: 32°27′N 99°45′W / 32.450°N 99.750°W / 32.450; -99.750
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesTaylor, Jones
Settled1881[1]
Incorporated (town)1881[1]
County seat1883[1]
Named forAbilene, Kansas[1]
County seatTaylor County
Government
 • TypeMayor–council–manager
 • MayorWeldon Hurt [2]
Area
[3]
 • City
112.09 sq mi (290.32 km2)
 • Land106.67 sq mi (276.27 km2)
 • Water5.42 sq mi (14.05 km2)
Elevation
1,719 ft (527 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • City
125,182 Increase
 • Density1,157/sq mi (447/km2)
 • Metro
176,579
 • Demonym
Abilenian
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
79601-08 79697-99[5]
Area code325
FIPS code48-01000[6]
GNIS feature ID2409657[7]
Websiteabilenetx.com

Abilene (/ˈæbɪliːn/ AB-i-leen) is a city in Taylor and Jones counties, Texas, United States. Its population was 125,182 at the 2020 census.[9] It is the principal city of the Abilene metropolitan statistical area, which had a population of 176,579 as of 2020.[10] Abilene is home to three Christian universities: Abilene Christian University, McMurry University, and Hardin–Simmons University. It is the county seat of Taylor County.[11] Dyess Air Force Base is located on the west side of the city.

Abilene is located on Interstate 20. I-20 forms a rounded bypass loop along the northern side of the city, between exits 279 on its western edge and 292 on the east. The city is located 150 miles (240 km) west of Fort Worth. Multiple freeways form a loop surrounding the city's core: I-20 on the north, US 83/84/277 on the west, and Loop 322 to the east. The former Texas and Pacific Railway, now part of the Union Pacific mainline, divides the city into well-established north and south zones. The historic downtown area is on the north side of the railroad, while the growing South Of Downtown Abilene "SODA" district is located on the south side of the tracks.

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference EB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Abilene Mayor | City of Abilene". www.abilenetx.gov. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  3. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2020 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Abilene city, Texas (revision of 10-24-2021)". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Look Up a Zip Code". USPS.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  6. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Abilene, Texas
  8. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Abilene city, Texas". www.census.gov. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  10. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. January 3, 2024. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  11. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.