Abilene is a city located in Taylor County Texas. It is also the county seat of Taylor County. With a 2023 population of 127,618, it is the 29th largest city in Texas and the 235th largest city in the United States.Abilene is currently growing at a rate of 0.64% annually and its population has increased by 1.95% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 125,182 in 2020. Spanning over 112 miles, Abilene has a population density of 1,196 people per square mile.
The average household income in Abilene is $67,808 with a poverty rate of 16.94%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Abilene is 32 years, 31.3 years for males, and 32.8 years for females.
Abilene's Dyess Air Force Base, combined with rapid expansion particularly in the southwest, southeast and northeast sections of the city, has led to continued population growth in Abilene. Recent expansions in the city, as well as initiatives to lure in new businesses, have contributed to Abilene’s population growth. While growth has slowed down since the population boom in the early 20th century, it is still steady, with the most recent estimates showing an increase of 4.4% since the last census in 2010. This indicates that Abilene is continuing to grow at a slower—but still steady—rate.
Cattle ranching and trade helped to build the city of Abilene. The area was founded officially in 1881 and was marked into lots that were sold quickly to the campers that were looking to make a living in Texas. The first college came just ten years later.
In 1940, the city funded the purchase of enough land to provide a US Army base just outside of town. The station brought thousands of people to the area and helped strengthen the economy and the population during and after the Second World War.