Abilene, TX Properties | Holley Homes Realty

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Abilene is the county seat of Taylor County, Texas, and the principal city of a metropolitan area of more than 175,000 people in the Big Country region of West Texas. The city also extends into Jones County. Founded in 1881 as a stop on the Texas and Pacific Railway, Abilene was named for Abilene, Kansas, a cattle-shipping town, and it grew as a ranching, railroad, and trade center for the surrounding plains. Today the city's economy rests on three sturdy pillars: the military, education, and regional commerce and health care. Dyess Air Force Base, on the city's west side, is a major installation and a central part of the local economy, supporting thousands of military and civilian personnel and their families. Three universities — Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, and McMurry University — give the city an outsized educational and cultural presence, together with a broader set of higher-education institutions. Abilene's downtown has branded itself the Storybook Capital of America, with storybook-themed sculptures and a celebrated children's-literature collection, adding a distinctive cultural identity. Interstate 20 runs through the city, placing it about 150 miles west of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and connecting it to the rest of the state. Roughly 125,000 people live in Abilene, drawn by a lower cost of living, a family-oriented pace, and the stability of its military and university institutions. Abilene's economy blends the military, higher education, health care, and regional commerce with the agriculture and energy activity of the surrounding Big Country. The presence of Dyess Air Force Base brings a steady military and civilian workforce, while the three universities employ faculty and staff and draw students from across Texas. Health care has grown into a major regional sector, with Abilene serving as a medical hub for a wide swath of West Texas. Families, military households, students, and retirees all find a place in the community, drawn by the city's affordability, its institutions, and the wide-open character of the region. Abilene functions as a true regional capital, providing shopping, medical care, education, and air service to communities across a large rural hinterland, and it combines a working West Texas heritage with the energy of a growing regional hub.

Population 125,182

County Taylor, Jones

Active Listings 1289

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Abilene, Texas in?

Abilene is located in Taylor County and Jones County in West Texas, and it serves as the seat of Taylor County. It is the principal city of the Abilene metropolitan area and the hub of the Big Country region.

What universities are in Abilene, Texas?

Abilene is home to three private universities: Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, and McMurry University. Together with other institutions, they give the city six colleges and universities and a strong educational presence.

What military base is near Abilene?

Dyess Air Force Base is located on the west side of Abilene and is a major military installation and a central part of the local economy, serving thousands of military and civilian personnel and their families.

What is the Big Country in Texas?

The Big Country is the West Texas region centered on Abilene, named for its wide-open landscapes and ranching heritage. Abilene serves as the region's principal city, commercial hub, and center for health care and education.

How far is Abilene from Dallas-Fort Worth?

Abilene sits about 150 miles west of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex along Interstate 20, providing a direct highway route to the Metroplex for travel and commerce. The interstate also continues west toward Midland-Odessa.

City Guide

About Abilene

Real Estate & Housing

Abilene's housing stock reflects its West Texas setting and its mix of long-established and newer neighborhoods. The city offers a range of single-family homes, from early- and mid-century houses in older in-town districts to ranch-style and contemporary homes in newer subdivisions on the south and west sides. Dyess Air Force Base operates its own on-base family housing, and neighborhoods near the base serve military families. The city's lower cost of living relative to Texas's major metros supports a broad, accessible housing market, with larger lots and newer construction available at the city's expanding edges.

Neighborhoods

Abilene's residential landscape spans historic in-town districts, established mid-century neighborhoods, and newer growth corridors. The areas around the three universities and the downtown hold older homes and rental housing serving students, while the south side, including the Wylie school district area, has seen substantial family-oriented development. Neighborhoods near Dyess Air Force Base on the west side cater to military households, and the base's own residential communities serve active-duty families. Newer subdivisions continue to expand on the city's south and southwest edges, adding contemporary single-family housing to the mix.

Lifestyle in Abilene

Abilene's three universities inject a steady stream of cultural activity into the city, from collegiate athletics to concerts, theater, and lectures open to the community. The downtown's Storybook Capital of America designation brings storybook-themed sculptures and a children's-literature focus that has become a civic point of pride, and the historic Paramount Theatre hosts performances in a restored 1930s venue. Museums such as the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum and Frontier Texas! preserve regional and military history. A slower West Texas pace, community events, and the stability of the military and university presence define daily life in Abilene.

Schools & Education

Abilene is served by two public school districts: Abilene Independent School District and Wylie Independent School District. Abilene ISD operates traditional high schools along with specialized programs such as the Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math, and Science (ATEMS) and medical magnet offerings, while Wylie ISD serves the growing south side. Higher education is a defining feature, with Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, and McMurry University among the institutions in the city. The presence of three universities gives Abilene families and students access to a range of educational and cultural resources.

Getting Around

Abilene sits on Interstate 20, the principal east-west corridor across West Texas, placing it about 150 miles west of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and on a direct route to Midland-Odessa to the west. U.S. Highways 83, 84, and 277 intersect in the city, connecting Abilene to surrounding Big Country communities and to points north and south. Abilene Regional Airport provides commercial air service, and the city's central location makes it a practical base for travel across West Texas and the southern Plains. Dyess Air Force Base operates as a major regional aviation facility on the city's west side.

Parks & Recreation

Abilene's recreation centers on its parks, cultural venues, and West Texas outdoors. The Abilene Zoo, one of the region's notable attractions, sits within the city's park system, and neighborhood parks provide playgrounds, sports fields, and trail space. The Paramount Theatre, museums, and downtown storybook sculptures offer indoor cultural recreation, while the surrounding Big Country provides hunting, fishing, and wide-open landscapes. Dyess Air Force Base hosts community events and airshows that draw residents from across the region. The city's universities add a steady calendar of collegiate sports and performances open to the public.

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