Editing Abilene, Texas (section)

==History==
[[File:Old map-Abilene-1883.jpg|left|thumb|An 1883 map of Abilene]]
[[File:Abilene June 2019 15 (Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau - Texas & Pacific Railroad Station).jpg|left|thumb|The restored [[Texas & Pacific Railway]] depot in Abilene serves as the tourist information center.]]
Established by cattlemen as a stock shipping point on the [[Texas and Pacific Railway]] in 1881, the city was named after [[Abilene, Kansas]],<ref name=EB>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Dale H. |editor-last=Hoiberg |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |title=Abilene |edition=15th |year=2010 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. |series=Vol. I: A-ak Bayes |location=Chicago, Illinois |isbn=978-1-59339-837-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/32 32–33] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/32 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |year=1905 |page=[https://archive.org/details/origincertainpl00ganngoog/page/n28 22] |author=Gannett, Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/origincertainpl00ganngoog |isbn=0-7884-0579-9}}</ref> the original endpoint for the [[Chisholm Trail]]. The T&P had bypassed the town of [[Buffalo Gap, Texas|Buffalo Gap]], the county seat at the time. Eventually, a landowner north of Buffalo Gap, Clabe Merchant, known as the father of Abilene, chose the name for the new town. According to a [[Dallas]] newspaper, about 800 people had already begun camping at the townsite before the lots were sold. The town was laid out by Colonel J. Stoddard Johnson, and the auction of lots began early on March 15, 1881. By the end of the first day, 139 lots were sold for a total of $23,810, and another 178 lots were sold the next day for $27,550.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Abilene was incorporated soon after being founded in 1881,<ref name=EB/> and residents began to set their sights on bringing the county seat to Abilene. In a three-to-one vote, they won the county election to do so. In 1888, the Progressive Committee was formed to attract businesses to the area, and in 1890 renamed itself as the Board of Trade. By 1900, 3,411 people lived in Abilene. In that decade, the Board of Trade changed its name to the 25,000 Club, in the hope of reaching a population of 25,000 by the next census. By 1910, though, the population had increased only to 9,204. Another group was formed, the Young Men's Booster Club, which became the Abilene Chamber of Commerce in 1914.

The cornerstone was laid in 1891 for Simmons College, the first of three universities in Abilene.<ref name=EB/> It later developed as [[Hardin–Simmons University]]. Childers Classical Institute was founded in 1906,<ref name=EB/> and developed as [[Abilene Christian University]], the largest of the three. In 1923, McMurry College was founded; it later expanded its offerings as [[McMurry University]].<ref name=EB/>

In the late 20th century, Abilene succeeded in gaining branches of Texas State Technical College and Cisco College. Headquarters of the latter institution are located in the city.

In 1940, Abilene raised the money to purchase land to attract establishment of a U.S. Army base southwest of town. It was named [[Camp Barkeley]]. When fully operational, it was twice the size of Abilene, with 60,000 men. When the base closed after World War II, many worried that Abilene could become a [[ghost town]], but as the national economy boomed, many veterans returned to start businesses in Abilene.

In the early 1950s, to advocate for an Air Force base, residents raised {{US$|893261|1951|about=yes|link=yes}} to purchase {{convert|3400|acre|km2}} of land. The southern block of congressmen gained approval for such a base here. For decades, [[Dyess Air Force Base]] has been the city's largest employer, with 6076 employees in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://myabilene.com/living_here/content.cfm?content_id=599 |title=Top Employers / Manufacturers|website=My Abilene|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011060149/http://myabilene.com/living_here/content.cfm?content_id=599|archive-date=October 11, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://myabilene.com/history/content.cfm?content_id=595 |title=From railroad tracks to vapor trails |website=My Abilene |access-date=2 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009220118/http://myabilene.com/history/content.cfm?content_id=595 |archive-date=October 9, 2007}}</ref>

From 1950 to 1960, Abilene's population nearly doubled, from 45,570 to 90,638. In 1960, a second high school was added to the city's school system, [[Cooper High School (Abilene, Texas)|Cooper High School]].

In 1966, the Abilene Zoo was established near [[Abilene Regional Airport]]. The following year, one of the most important bond elections in the city's history passed for the funding of the construction of the Abilene Civic Center and the Taylor County Coliseum, as well as major improvements to Abilene Regional Airport. In 1969, the Woodson elementary and high school for black students closed as the city integrated its school system, more than 10 years after the US Supreme Court's ruling in ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' (1954) that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional.

In 1982, Abilene became the first city in Texas to create a downtown reinvestment zone. [[Texas State Technical College]] opened an Abilene branch three years later. The 2,250-bed French Robertson Prison Unit was built in 1989. A half-cent [[sales tax]] earmarked for economic development was created after the decline in the [[petroleum]] business in the 1980s. A branch of [[Cisco College]] was located in the city in 1990.

Several major projects of restoration and new construction: [[The Grace Museum]] and [[Paramount Theatre (Abilene, Texas)|Paramount Theatre]], and development of Artwalk in 1992, sparked a decade of downtown revitalization. In 2004, [[Frontier Texas!]], a multimedia museum highlighting the history of the area from 1780 to 1880, was constructed. That year, an $8 million, {{convert|38|acre|m2|adj=on}} Cisco Junior College campus was built at Loop 322 and Industrial Boulevard. Simultaneously, subdivisions and businesses started locating along the freeway, on the same side as the CJC campus. This area attracted Abilene growth on the loop.

Abilene has become the commercial, retail, medical, and transportation hub of a 19-county area more commonly known as "The Big Country", but also known as the "Texas Midwest". It is part of the [[Central Great Plains (ecoregion)|Central Great Plains]] ecoregion. By the end of 2005, commercial and residential development had reached record levels in and around the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://myabilene.com/history/content.cfm?content_id=601 |title=Historical Highlights |website=My Abilene |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009220138/http://myabilene.com/history/content.cfm?content_id=601|archive-date=October 9, 2007}}</ref>

=== Timeline ===
{{hidden begin|title=Timeline of Abilene, Texas|titlestyle=background:#F8F8FF;width:90%}}
* 1881
** Settlement established.<ref name=dates />
** Texas & Pacific Railroad begins operating.<ref name=dates>{{cite web |url=http://www.abilenetx.com/living/history-information |title=Significant Dates in Abilene History |work=Abilenetx.com |publisher=City of Abilene, Texas |access-date=April 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412062434/http://www.abilenetx.com/living/history-information |archive-date=April 12, 2017 }}</ref>
** ''[[Abilene Reporter-News|Abilene Reporter]]'' newspaper begins publication.<ref name=LOC>{{cite web |url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/search/titles/results/?city=Abilene&rows=50&state=Texas&page=1&sort=date |title=US Newspaper Directory |location=Washington, D.C. |work=[[Chronicling America]] |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411223507/http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/search/titles/results/?city=Abilene&rows=50&state=Texas&page=1&sort=date |archive-date=April 11, 2017 }}</ref>
* 1883
** Town of Abilene incorporated.<ref name=Hellmann-2006>{{cite book |author=Paul T. Hellmann |title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States |year=2006 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=1-135-94859-3 |chapter=Texas: Abilene |page={{page needed|date=January 2024}} |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC}}</ref>
** D. B. Corley becomes mayor.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://abilenetx.com/home/showdocument?id=4560 |title=City of Abilene Mayors 1883-2004 |publisher=City of Abilene |access-date=April 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412063147/http://abilenetx.com/home/showdocument?id=4560 |archive-date=April 12, 2017 }}</ref>
** Abilene becomes seat of [[Taylor County, Texas|Taylor County]].<ref name=Hellmann-2006/>
* 1890 – Population: 3,194.<ref name=TSHApop>{{citation |work=Texas Almanac |title=City Population History from 1850–2000: Abilene |date=12 January 2011 |url=https://texasalmanac.com/topics/population |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825233352/https://texasalmanac.com/topics/population |archive-date=2017-08-25 }}</ref>
* 1891 – [[Hardin–Simmons University|Simmons College]] founded.<ref name=Hellmann-2006/>
* 1898 – "Federation" [[subscription library]] organized.<ref>{{citation |title=Historical Sketches of Texas Libraries: Abilene |work= Handbook of Texas Libraries |number=1 |url= https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b4221835?urlappend=%3Bseq=17 |publisher=Texas Library Association |location=Austin |year= 1904 |hdl= 2027/uc1.b4221835?urlappend=%3Bseq=17 }}</ref>
* 1903 – [[Alcohol prohibition in the United States|Saloons banned]] in Abilene.<ref name=Downs />
* 1906 – [[Childers Classical Institute]] established.<ref name=dates />
* 1910 – Population: 9,204.<ref name=TSHApop />
* 1919 – [[Abilene Zoological Gardens]] established.<ref name="Kisling2001">{{cite book |editor=Vernon N. Kisling, Jr. |title=Zoo and Aquarium History |year=2001 |publisher=[[CRC Press]] |location=USA |isbn=978-1-4200-3924-5 |chapter=Zoological Gardens of the United States |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ulbMBQAAQBAJ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216023519/https://books.google.com/books?id=ulbMBQAAQBAJ |archive-date=2017-02-16 }} (Chronological list)</ref>
* 1923 – [[McMurry University|McMurry College]] established.<ref name=Hellmann-2006/>
* 1924 – [[First Presbyterian Church (Abilene, Texas)|First Presbyterian Church]] built.
* 1925 – Majestic Theater, a major movie theater, opened.<ref name=cinema>{{cite web |url= http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/united-states/texas/abilene?status=all |title= Movie Theaters in Abilene, TX |work= CinemaTreasures.org |publisher= Cinema Treasures LLC |location= Los Angeles |access-date= April 11, 2017 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170412061552/http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/united-states/texas/abilene?status=all |archive-date= April 12, 2017 }}</ref>
* 1930
** Paramount Theatre in business.<ref name=cinema />
** Population: 23,175.<ref name=TSHApop />
* 1936 – KRBC [[List of radio stations in Texas|radio]] begins broadcasting.<ref name=Alicoate1939>{{citation |title=Radio Annual |oclc=2459636 |year=1939 |editor= Jack Alicoate |publisher= Radio Daily |location=New York |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/radioannual193900radi#page/378/mode/2up |chapter= Standard Broadcasting Stations of the United States: Texas }}</ref>
* 1937
** ''[[Abilene Reporter-News]]'' in publication.<ref name=LOC />
** Regional "West Texas Chamber of Commerce" relocated to Abilene.<ref name=Handbook>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Handbook of Texas Online |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |title-link= Handbook of Texas Online}}</ref>
* 1942 – Temple Mizpah (synagogue) built.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.isjl.org/texas-west-encyclopedia.html |title=Texas: West Texas |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities |publisher=Goldring / Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life |location=Jackson, Mississippi |access-date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703065416/http://www.isjl.org/texas-west-encyclopedia.html |archive-date=July 3, 2017 }}</ref>
* 1946 – [[Abilene Blue Sox]] baseball team formed.<ref name=Downs>{{cite web |author=Fane Downs |title=Abilene, TX |work=Handbook of Texas Online |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hda01 |publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]] |access-date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411220721/https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hda01 |archive-date=April 11, 2017 }}</ref>
* 1947 – Office of [[city manager]] established.<ref name=Downs />
* 1949 – Park Drive-In cinema in business.<ref name=cinema />
* 1950 – Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra active.<ref name=Downs />
* 1953 – KRBC-TV ([[List of television stations in Texas|television]]) begins broadcasting.<ref name=TV1964 />
* 1956
** U.S. military [[Abilene Air Force Base]] begins operating.<ref name=dates />
** KPAR-TV ([[List of television stations in Texas|television]]) begins broadcasting.<ref name=TV1964>{{citation |title=Yearbook of Radio and Television |oclc=7469377 |year=1964 |publisher=Radio Television Daily |location=New York |chapter=United States TV Stations Texas |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/r00radi#page/560/mode/2up |via=Internet Archive |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320085652/https://archive.org/stream/r00radi#page/560/mode/2up |archive-date=2017-03-20 }} {{free access}}</ref>
* 1960 – Population: 90,368.<ref name=TSHApop />
* 1977 – Abilene Preservation League organized.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abilenepreservation.org/ |title=About |publisher=Abilene Preservation League |access-date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412061343/http://www.abilenepreservation.org/ |archive-date=April 12, 2017 }}</ref>
* 1978 – [[Alcohol prohibition in the United States|Alcohol prohibition]] ends in Abilene.<ref name=Downs />
* 1979 – [[Charles Stenholm]] was elected as the Democratic [[U.S. representative]] for [[Texas's 17th congressional district]]. He was re-elected for 13 terms.<ref>{{cite book |title=Official Congressional Directory |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Government Printing Office |year= 1979 |chapter=Texas |chapter-url= https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015012846567?urlappend=%3Bseq=217 |via= [[HathiTrust]] |title-link=Official Congressional Directory |hdl=2027/mdp.39015012846567?urlappend=%3Bseq=217 }}</ref>
* 2000 – City website online (approximate date).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abilenetx.com/|title=City of Abilene, TX|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817044142/http://www.abilenetx.com/ |archive-date=August 17, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |editor1=Kevin Hyde |editor2=Tamie Hyde |work=Official City Sites |url=http://officialcitysites.org/Texas/Cities/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000824030829/http://officialcitysites.org/Texas/Cities/A/ |archive-date=August 24, 2000 |title=Texas - City / Town / Locality links |oclc=40169021}}</ref>
* 2001 – World War II-related "12th Armored Division Memorial Museum" opens.<ref>{{cite web |title=World War II museum turns 15 |url=http://archive.reporternews.com/news/local/world-war-ii-museum-turns-15-3e138688-6e12-0d96-e053-0100007f86b0-396099581.html |date=October 5, 2016 |work=Abilene Reporter-News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825232130/http://archive.reporternews.com/news/local/world-war-ii-museum-turns-15-3e138688-6e12-0d96-e053-0100007f86b0-396099581.html |archive-date=August 25, 2017 }}</ref>
* 2005 – Republican [[Randy Neugebauer]] was elected as [[U.S. representative]] for Texas's newly [[2003 Texas redistricting|redrawn]] [[Texas's 19th congressional district|19th congressional district]], including Abilene.<ref>{{cite web |work=Abilene Reporter-News |date=March 22, 2016 |url=http://archive.reporternews.com/lifestyle/columnists/larry-zelisko/larry-the-answer-guy-several-congressmen-have-come-from-this-area-2e922399-2e16-2fbf-e053-0100007f54-373088941.html |title=Larry the Answer Guy: Several congressmen have come from this area}} (List of U.S. Congressional representatives for Abilene, 1883–2016)</ref>
* 2010 – Population: 117,063.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/4801000 |title= Abilene city, Texas |work=QuickFacts|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=April 11, 2017 }}</ref>
* 2017 – [[Jodey Arrington]] becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 19th congressional district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members |title=Members of Congress |work=[[GovTrack.us|GovTrack]] |author=Civic Impulse, LLC |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411222055/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members |archive-date=April 11, 2017 }}</ref>
*2019 – revamping the downtown area of North Abilene. As of October 2019 a couple of buildings were torn down and Hilton developed a new Double Tree hotel.
{{hidden end}}