Abilene, Texas, established by cattlemen as a …

Years: 1882 - 1882

Abilene, Texas, established by cattlemen as a stock shipping point on the Texas and Pacific Railway in 1881, is named after Abilene, Kansas, the original endpoint for the Chisholm Trail.

The T&P had bypassed the town of Buffalo Gap, the county seat at the time.

Eventually, a landowner north of Buffalo Gap, Clabe Merchant, known as the father of Abilene, chose the name for the new town.

According to a Dallas newspaper, about eight hundred people had already begun camping at the townsite, before the lots were sold.

The town is laid out by Colonel J. Stoddard Johnson, and the auction of lots had begun early on March 15, 1881.

By the end of the first day, one hundred and thirty-nine lots were sold for a total of twenty-three thousand eight hundred and ten dollars, and another one hundred and seventy-eight lots were sold the next day for $27,550.

In 1882, the town is incorporated, and Abilenians begin to set their sights on bringing the county seat to Abilene and, in a three-to-one vote, win the election.

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