Community Events and Attractions
Every year Abilene hosts a variety of community events and activities centering on a western theme. Because of its heritage and lifestyle, the city offers a plethora of Texan-themed events.
The annual Western Heritage Classic and the Winter Spectacular Cutting Horse are both examples. The Classic is a three-day weekend event which highlights the values of working on an active ranch. The weekend’s highlight is the Ranch Rodeo that features 11 historic ranches.
The West Texas Fair and Rodeo is held for ten days each September and features food, rides, exhibits and amusements celebrating West Texas. The remains of Fort Phantom Hill can be seen ten miles north of Abilene. The fort burned shortly after abandonment in 1854. The stone commissary, a guardhouse, a powder magazine, and numerous chimneys and foundations remain.
Other attractions include Historic Downtown Abilene, that is undergoing a rebirth of growth with shopping and dining centered on historic Cypress Street, stretching from the Abilene Civic Center to the restored T&P Railroad Depot. Buses provide free transportation downtown.
The Paramount Theater is listed the National Register of Historic Places. This is a fully-restored art deco movie theater. The theater shows classic films on weekends and hosts art films, plays and concerts throughout the year.
Two blocks away is the Grace Cultural Center, a restored 1909 hotel. The Grace houses a museum and an interactive children’s museum. The hotel hosts special exhibits, classes, seminars, weddings and special events.
The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature is in the restored Rhodes Auto Building at North 1st and Cedar streets. The only one of its kind in the nation, the center features art exhibits from children's books and promotes educational programming by conducting docent-led school tours.
Abilene has the variety of performing arts often seen in larger cities including an opera, an orchestra, community theater, three university theaters, professional shows and dance studios.
The city also offers 26 parks featuring lakes with paddleboats, playgrounds, and is the home to the Abilene Zoo. The thirteen-acre zoo is divided into three habitat areas: the Texas Plains, the African Veldt, and the Herpetarium. The Texas Plains area features animals native to the area including bison, pronghorn, javelina, coyote, wild turkey, prairie dogs and roadrunners.
The African Veldt area has hyenas, tigers, lions, elephants and giraffe. The Herpetarium features snakes, geckos and salamanders.
There also are four public golf courses, two disc golf courses and skate parks.
Dyess Air Force Base is home to 4,000 civilian and military personnel. The base is open for prearranged tours and has a Linear Air Park exhibit featuring 30 aircraft from World War II to the modern era.
The first weekend in April features Celebrate Abilene, an outdoor festival held downtown, focusing on local arts, history, the railroad and family entertainment.
There also are several conventions, festivals and shows scattered throughout the year including the Abilene Gem and Mineral Show, the West Texas Book and Author Festival, the Abilene Gun and Knife Show, the Friends of the Abilene Public Library Book Sale, and the Erinshire Folk Music Festival.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 115,930 people, 41,570 households, and 28,101 families residing in the city. The following numbers represent percents of population: 20 years old and under, 32 percent; 21 to 34, 23 percent; 35 to 54, 25 percent and 55 and older, 20 percent.
Miscellaneous
Climate averages: 23.70 inches.
January is the coldest month, 43.5 degrees; July is the warmest month, 83.5 degrees.
Elevation: 1,570 feet above sea level.