Abilene is called "The Friendly Frontier" and not only is it a great family-oriented city, it is a regional center for commerce, industry, transportation and education. Abilene's Public Schools, which includes the Abilene Independent School District and the Wylie Independent School District, are excellent. Abilene is a city with so many opportunities including great shopping, dining and cultural events generally found in much larger cities.
In 1881, Abilene was founded, as the Texas and Pacific Railroad was building west from Ft. Worth. From that day forward, vigorous and imaginative people have poured their energies into developing their town into a city with strong civic pride. With a diversified and strong local economy, Abilene's greatest resource still lies with its people. Abilene enjoys its reputation of being a safe, clean and friendly place to live. Abilene's location places it near charming outlying towns and communities as well as scenic parks and other recreational areas.
Dyess Air Force Base
Dyess Air Force Base is home to the 7th Bomb Wing including three B-1 Lancer and two C-130 Hercules squadrons. Dyess is the nation’s only B-1 initial training facility and has the largest contingent (36) of B-1 bombers in the Air Force.
The military presence is a very important factor in the Abilene economy. Dyess Air Force Base is Abilene’s largest employer. The personnel and families account for about 12 percent of the population in Abilene and contribute over $330 million into the local economy each year. The U.S. Army Reserve, Texas Army National Guard and the U. S. Marine Reserve also have a presence in Abilene.
Welcome & congratulations if you are moving to Dyess AFB and Abilene, Tx! You have come to one of the best places to live in America! Abilene is one of the friendliest places to live in the country!
There are many options for housing in Abilene. Buying a home in Abilene is a great choice and is a great investment as home values in Abilene are going up. If you are going to be in Abilene for two to three years or more, you should definitely look into buying a home.
If you will only be in Abilene a short while, you may want to consider buying a home as an investment property and renting it after you leave. Whether you want to buy a family home or purchase a property as investment income, there are significant tax advantages that can’t be overlooked.
The Judy Colvin Team specializes in working with military buyers. We work as buyers agents which means that we work for you and represent your best interests. We will assist you with the entire buying process from start to finish.
In addition, sellers often pay closing costs, making getting into your home that much easier. If you are using your VA entitlement to buy a home, you might be able to get into your new home with now money down! We can answer all your questions and champion your best interest in all real estate transactions.
Let the Judy Colvin Team help make your move to Abilene, Tx and Dyess Air Force Base a great experience!
Information About Abilene...
Housing
The average price of a home in Abilene is approximately $150,000.
Location
The major roadways surrounding Abilene are U.S. routes 83, 84, 277, and I-20. The closest towns to Abilene are Impact, Buffalo Gap, Tye, Potosi, and Hawley. All 5 towns are less than 15 miles away. Tuscola, Clyde, and Merkel are close to 20 miles from Abilene. The major city of Dallas is approximately 170 miles away and Houston is close to 320 miles from Abilene.
Airports
Less than 10 miles away are Abilene Regional, Dyess Air Force Base, and Elmdale Airpark. The closest major airport is Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport that is close to 160 miles from Abilene.
Terrain
Abilene is settled in the northeast corner of Taylor County and is approximately 1,708 feet above sea level. The City of Abilene consists of mainly flat terrain. Abilene is within a scenic drive of Lytle Lake and Kirby Lake. Located north of Abilene is Lake Fort Phantom Hill. The land area of Abilene is approximately 105 square miles.
Southwest of Abilene in the extreme western portion of North Central Texas in Taylor County is a low range of hills called the Callahan Divide and Lake Abilene.
Population
As of 2004, the estimated population of the City of Abilene is close to 115,000 people.
Jobs
The City of Abilene serves as the County seat for Taylor County. In the city there are many job opportunities. Some of the top employers include Dyess Airforce Base, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Hendrick Health System, and the Abilene Independent School System.
The major employment sectors for Abilene are education, health, and social services, which employs roughly 30% of the work force population. Retail trade employs close to 13% of the population. The median family income in Abilene is close to $33,000 (2000 census).
Colleges/Universities
The City of Abilene has numerous colleges within its reach. Included are Texas Tech University, Texas College of Cosmetology, Abilene Christian University, McMurry University, and Hardin-Simmons University.
Historic Places of Interest
The Grace Museum, built in 1909, is a mission revival style building. It includes an historical Museum, an interactive children’s Museum, and an art Museum. The Grace hosts special exhibits, classes, seminars, weddings and other special events throughout the year.
Buffalo Gap Historic Village is the site of Taylor County's original settlement. The village feature 17 buildings with western and Indian artifacts as well as rotating special historic exhibits.
The Paramount was built in 1930, renovated in 1986, and re-opened 1987. It is a restored movie theater that features a ceiling with twinkling stars on a blue sky and slow drifting clouds. There is also a bell tower with twin domed turrets and numerous archways. The theater shows classic films on weekends and hosts plays, art films, and concerts. The Paramount Theatre is in the National Register of Historic Places.
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
Abilene loves its football! We have lots of spirit for high school and college football including Abilene Christian, McMurry, and Hardin-Simmons.
Shotwell Stadium in Abilene hosts high school and university football and draws visiting teams from all over the Big Country.
The City of Abilene has a fantastic park system with 29 parks totaling 1,247 acres including 3 top-notch athletic complexes.
Abilene State Park, southwest of Abilene, in Taylor County, is among a low range of hills called the Callahan Divide, in the extreme western portion of North Central Texas. The Abilene State Park offers camping, hiking, nature study, swimming, picnicking, fishing in Buffalo Wallow Pond and nearby Lake Abilene, and biking and walking on park roads.
Beautiful Nelson Park is home to the Abilene Zoo. The Abilene Zoo presents collections of plants and animals. The animal exhibits are ornamented with plants native to Texas. The Abilene Zoo is the home of more than 800 animals representing over 200 species. The Zoo consists of animals such as Jaguars, Zebras, Giraffes, African Elephants, Bison, and several aquariums.
Abilene is a golfer's paradise with top-notch courses such as The Abilene Country Club, DiamondBack Golf Club, Fairway Oaks Country Club, Maxwell Golf Course, Mesquite Grove at Dyess Air Force Base, and Willow Creek.
The Fairway Oaks Country Club was ranked by the Dallas Morning News as one of the best Golf Courses in the State of Texas. Fairway Oaks Country Club offers golf, tennis, fitness, swimming, and dining. Fairway Oaks hosted PGA tours from the late 1970’s through the early 1990’s.
Abilene National Soccer Complex has 11 soccer fields, full-service concession stand, and parking for 600 vehicles.
Hunting for deer, quail, and dove in Taylor County is very popular and is one of the area's big tourist attractions.
Special Attractions & Events
Downtown Abilene is a thriving cultural district with attractions such as ArtWalk each month, Broadway, the historic Paramount Theatre, outdoor sculpture, the Center for Contemporary Art, and many excellent art galleries.
The Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater is held annually each March and draws many to enjoy this fun event. Events include Rattlesnake Review Parade, rattlesnake exhibits, the Miss Snakecharmer Pageant, cook-offs that include deep-fried Western Diamondback Rattlesnake meat, numerous vendors, a carnival, and The Gun, Knife and Coin show. There's something for everyone!
Frontier Texas! The wild west heritage of Abilene is alive in this uniques interactive historical
destination.
Taylor County Expo Center holds hundreds of events each year including Arts and Crafts shows, seminars, equestrian and livestock events, and much more.
Abilene Civic Center has conference facilities including a large auditorium, huge exhibit hall, and a conference center.
The City of Abilene holds the West Texas Fair for ten days in mid-September. Features include exhibits and amusements reflecting the early days of Abilene in addition to modern exhibits of West Texas.
The Western Heritage Classic is held in Abilene around early May. In the Western Heritage Classic there is a ranch rodeo, sheep dog trails, campfire cook-off, Cowboy Poets Society, Western art show, and many other activities representing the early western heritage.
Celebrate Abilene, held the first weekend in April,is an outdoor festival held in the historic downtown area. Come and enjoy the historic railroad, art exhibits, and entertainment for all ages.
Interesting Facts
Abilene's Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit is the longest running exhibit of its kind in the state --- in its 25th year in 2006.
After the Texas & Pacific Railroad was finished in 1881, the City of Abilene was established.
The City of Abilene has been home to many famous people such as NFL Defensive Tackle Hollis Thomas, Pop Singer Jessica Simpson, Country Singer Caryl Mack Parker, and PGA Golfer Bob Estes.
The City of Abilene is best described as "The Future Great City of West Texas".
- NUMBER1EXPERTS™ 
