Introduction

The City of Abilene, Texas is located in west central Texas, near the geographic center of the state, approximately 180 miles due west of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. Situated just off Interstate 20, Abilene is the center of a 22-county area commonly referred to as the Texas Midwest or the Big Country. Abilene serves as the county seat for Taylor County, one of 254 counties in the nation's second-largest state. The town of Abilene, described as "the Future Great City of West Texas", was established in March 1881 upon the completion of the Texas & Pacific Railway.
Abilene's civic progressiveness has given it a number of cultural and entertainment attractions in excess of what would be expected for a city of 116,000. The City of Abilene retains a strong western heritage with a distinct family atmosphere. It's function as a regional center for distribution, commerce, industry, transportation, and education have given it an assortment of lodging, dining, cultural, and shopping opportunities usually found only in much larger cities.