Abilene, Kansas. City and Business guide.

Welcome to Abilene, Kansas.

Abilene is a city in Dickinson County, Kansas, United States, 163 miles (262 km) west of Kansas City. In 1900, 3,507 people lived here. The population was 6,543 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dickinson County.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Center Museum and a grain elevator--two symbols of the best of Kansas. Photo by Danton McDiffett, July 2006
Abilene began as a stage coach stop in 1857 established by Timothy Hersey and Eliza Hersey. The name, taken from a passage in the bible, means city of the plains. (The Hersey dugout can still be seen in the cellar of the Lebold Mansion.) The town grew quickly when Joseph G. McCoy decided to use the town for the location of his stockyards.

With the railroad pushing west and the cattle traders soon used Abilene as the largest stockyards west of Kansas City. The Chisholm Trail ended in Abilene and brought in many travelers and made Abilene one of the wildest towns in the west.

Abilene became home to Dwight D. Eisenhower when his family moved to Abilene from Denison, Texas in 1892 where he attended elementary school through high school. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library is located in Abilene. It is now the final resting place for President Eisenhower, his wife, Mamie, and one son.

The Greyhound Hall of Fame is located straight across from the Eisenhower Presidential Library. It contains exhibits on the breed of greyhounds, the history of greyhounds, the racing of greyhounds, and the chance to meet some retired greyhounds.. Abilene has been called the greyhound capital of the world.

Old Abilene town is a historical part of the city. It contains original buildings from the 1800s that have been restored and then left to rot. It once showcased live performances and educational seminars. Old Abilene currently lies in ruin but for several years, there have been plans to revive this tourist destination.

The Seelye Mansion is one of the largest homes in Abilene. It has been converted into a museum for Dr. Seelye.

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