Abilene, Texas, Taylor County seat. (original) (raw)
"The Star of Texas"
Taylor County Seat, West Texas / Texas Panhandle
32� 27' 0" N, 99� 45' 0" W (32.45, -99.75)
Junction of Hwys 20, 80, 36 (East-West) &
83, 84, and 277 (North-South)
149 miles W of Fort Worth
40 miles E of Sweetwater
148 miles E of Midland through Big Spring on I-20
24 miles S of Anson, 55 miles N of Ballinger on US 83
52 miles NW Coleman on US 84
89 miles NE of San Angelo on US 277
ZIP codes 79601-08 79697-99[6]
Area code 325
Population: 125,182 (2020)
117,063 (2010) 115,930 (2000) 106,707 (1990)
Book Hotel Here › Abilene Hotels
Bird's Eye View of Abilene, Texas. 1883 Toned lithograph
Click on image to enlarge
Courtesy of Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.
History in a Pecan Shell
Buffalo Gap had been the county seat when Taylor County was organized in 1878. Business men somehow convinced the Texas & Pacific railroad that their land was flatter, or otherwise more suitable for a laying tracks and Buffalo Gap was left where it was. One of these same business men suggested they name it after Abilene, Kansas. And so it was.
Abilene was then promoted as the "Future Great City of West Texas." Lots were sold in 1881 and on January 2, 1883 it became the county seat.
Abilene, Texas Landmarks include:
The historic downtown is north of the railroad.
- Taylor County Courthouse
- Old Taylor County Courthouse (1914) - 300 Oak Street. This was the County's third courthouse. The first was in Buffalo Gap when it was the county seat. The second, which strongly resembled the Albany Courthouse was razed to make room for this one.
- The Grace Museum - 102 Cypress Street. The former Hotel Grace, later the Drake Hotel, was built in 1909.A recent 4.8 million dollar restoration has given Abilene one of the finest restored hotels in the entire state.
| The Wooten Hotel Now Abilene Towers (Right) 302 Cypress Street. Built in 1930 and paid for in cash by grocery magnate H.O. Wooten, whose home is also on the historic landmarks tour. |  |
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- The Paramount Theater - 352 Cypress Street. Also built in 1930, it was no coincidence, but was part of a plan by H.O. who had the captive audience in his hotel.
- Elmdale - A ghost town within Abilene city limits
Windsor Hotel - 174 Cypress, Abilene
The original Windsor Hotel was built in 1890 and is the oldest commercial building in Abilene. It featured arched openings on the second and third floors and a 16-foot high balcony with ornate iron decoration. The 1997 renovation returned the facade to its original hotel look, now called the Cypress Building. - Steve Johnson, May 2007
Boyd Building - 1292 N. 1st, Abilene
Built in 1925, the Boyd Building is one of Abilene's premier examples of an early service station. The original station was Gulf Refinery Company, No. 3, and was later taken over by the C. H. Boyd and Sons Tire Co. - Steve Johnson, May 2007
Paramount Theatre old neon sign
Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2014
The 1930 Abilene Courts ghost & neon sign
Jimmy Dobson Photo, September 2017
Abilene Nearby Destinations:
Camp Barkeley
One of the nation's largest military camps of WWII
11 Miles SW of Abilene
Now Dyess AFB
Buffalo Gap Historic Village
Photo courtesy TXDoT
Buffalo Gap
The former county seat is fourteen miles south of town on Hwy 89. Buffalo actually migrated through this gap in the Tonkawa mountains. Famed for being a scenic oasis in West Texas, Buffalo Gap also has the Buffalo Gap Historic Village. The village consists of 20 restored buildings including the old Taylor County Courthouse and Jail. 325-572-3365
- Taylor County Towns
- Abilene State Park and Lake Abilene :
Off Hwy 89 South of Buffalo Gap
150 Park Road 32
Tuscola TX 79562
325/572-3204
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us.htm - Lake Clyde - 5 miles south of Clyde. 25 miles east of Abilene. On the headwaters of the Pecan Bayou.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us.htm - Lake Leon - On the Leon River in Eastland County, 68 miles east of Abilene
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us.htm - Hwy 351 Northeast 35 miles to Albany
- Hwy 84 South 52 miles to ColemanAbilene Tourist Information
The Abilene Convention and Visitor's Bureau -
Located in the beautifully restored T & P Depot.
A downtown walking guide is available and a booklet of historical landmarks is for sale.
1101 North First Street. 1-800-727-7704
website: www.abilene.com/visitors
Abilene Hotels > Book Hotel Here
Abilene, Texas Old Postcards
Pine Street
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Cotton "waiting to be weighted."
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Spillway, Lytle Lake, Abilene
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
South First & Chestnut Streets
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
L - Abilene street scene - North Third Street looking West
R - Underpass and Pine Street looking north
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
First Presbyterian Church
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
First Baptist Church Auditorium and Educational Building
1920s Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texas Churches
Alexander Building Ca. 1920
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Abilene High School Building
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texas Schoolhouses
Cowden Hall, Simmons College
1911 Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
McMurry College
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
McMurry College
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Hotel Wooten
Now Abilene Towers
302 Cypress Street.
Built in 1930 and paid for in cash by grocery magnate H.O. Wooten, whose home is also on the historic landmarks tour.
More Rooms with a Past
Grande Lodge
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
El Corral Motel
1940s Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Rooms with a Past
Abilene, Texas Forum
- Tacoma Calling Abilene
Dear Texas Escapes, I was wondering if anyone remembers the drug store that used to operate as Cooks Drugs in Abilene. It was located, I believe, on South 7th close to the intersection with Willis Street. I would like to know if it still exists although I am sure it's long gone. I spent many summers in Abilene at my grandparents on the corner of South 6th and Willis. This was back in the 1960's. Back then we use to go to Cooks to their soda fountain and had "real" Cherry Cokes. I would love to see a picture of the existing structure and other structures close by to the Ole Cooks drug store. - Carl Pederson, Tacoma, Washington, September 04, 2006
Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.