Abilene, Kansas

Coordinates: 38°55′23″N 97°13′31″W / 38.92306°N 97.22528°W / 38.92306; -97.22528
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Abilene, Kansas
FIPS code
20-00125
GNIS ID485539[1]
Websiteabilenecityhall.com

Abilene (pronounced

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
and the Greyhound Hall of Fame.

History

See also: History of Kansas

19th century

Joseph McCoy's Drover's Hotel, McCoy's Stock Yard in 1867
1915 railroad map of Dickinson County

In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

In 1857, Dickinson County was founded and Abilene began as a stage coach stop, established by Timothy Hersey and named Mud Creek. It was not until 1860 that it was named Abilene, from a passage in the Bible (Luke 3:1), meaning "grassy plains".[2]

In 1867, the

Union Pacific) pushed westward through Abilene. In the same year, Joseph G. McCoy purchased 250 acres of land north and east of Abilene, on which he built a hotel, the Drover's Cottage, stockyards equipped for 2,000 heads of cattle, and a stable for their horses. The Kansas Pacific put in a spur line at Abilene that enabled the cattle cars to be loaded and sent on to their destinations. The first twenty carloads left September 5, 1867, en route to Chicago, Illinois, where McCoy was familiar with the market.[7] The town grew quickly and became the first "cow town" of the west.[8]

McCoy encouraged Texas cattlemen to drive their herds to his stockyards. From 1867 to 1871, the Chisholm Trail ended in Abilene, bringing in many travelers and making Abilene one of the wildest towns in the west.[9][10] The stockyards shipped 35,000 head in 1867 and became the largest stockyards west of Kansas City, Kansas. In 1871, more than 5,000 cowboys herded from 600,000 to 700,000 cows to Abilene and other Kansas railheads.[2][11][12] Another source reports 440,200 head of cattle were shipped out of Abilene from 1867 to 1871.[13] As railroads were built further south, the end of the Chisholm Trail was slowly moved south toward Caldwell, while Kansas homesteaders concerned with cattle ruining their farm crops moved the trail west toward and past Ellsworth.

Town

gambler Phil Coe took two shots at Hickok, who returned fire, killing Coe but Hickok then accidentally shot his friend and deputy, Mike Williams,[14]
who was coming to his aid. Hickok lost his job two months later in December.

In 1880, Conrad Lebold built the Lebold Mansion. Lebold was one of the early town developers and bankers from 1869 through 1889. The Hersey dugout can still be seen in the cellar. The house is now a private residence.[15] A marker outside credits the name of the town being given by opening a Bible and using the first place name pointed to.

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles (4.8 km) west of Strong City) through Abilene to Superior, Nebraska. In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the Santa Fe.

In 1890, Dr. A.B. Seelye founded the A.B. Seelye Medical Company. Seelye developed over 100 products for the company including "Wasa-Tusa",[16] an Indian name meaning to heal.

20th century

Eisenhower Presidential Library

Abilene became home to

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is the burial site of President Eisenhower, his wife, Mamie, and their first-born son Doud Dwight.[17]

Geography

Abilene is on the north side of the Smoky Hill River[2] in the Flint Hills region of the Great Plains.[18] Mud Creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hill, flows south through the city.[19] Located in North Central Kansas at the intersection of Interstate 70 and K-15, Abilene is approximately 27 mi (43 km) east of Salina, Kansas, 94 mi (151 km) north of Wichita, and 139 mi (224 km) west of Kansas City.[18][20]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 4.68 square miles (12.12 km2), all of it land.[21]

Climate

Located in the transition zone between North America's humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) and humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) zones, Abilene experiences hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. In the spring, severe thunderstorms bring the threat of tornadoes and hail. The hottest temperature recorded in Abilene was 113 °F (45.0 °C) on July 13, 1954 and July 15, 1954, while the coldest temperature recorded was −29 °F (−33.9 °C) on February 12, 1899.[22]

Climate data for Abilene, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 78
(26) 		84
(29) 		95
(35) 		100
(38) 		103
(39) 		111
(44) 		113
(45) 		112
(44) 		113
(45) 		98
(37) 		88
(31) 		74
(23) 		113
(45)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 63.9
(17.7) 		71.0
(21.7) 		81.0
(27.2) 		87.4
(30.8) 		93.1
(33.9) 		100.7
(38.2) 		105.2
(40.7) 		102.8
(39.3) 		96.9
(36.1) 		89.7
(32.1) 		75.3
(24.1) 		65.7
(18.7) 		106.5
(41.4)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 43.2
(6.2) 		48.6
(9.2) 		59.7
(15.4) 		69.7
(20.9) 		78.9
(26.1) 		89.4
(31.9) 		94.4
(34.7) 		92.1
(33.4) 		84.2
(29.0) 		71.2
(21.8) 		57.1
(13.9) 		45.4
(7.4) 		69.5
(20.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) 32.5
(0.3) 		36.9
(2.7) 		47.3
(8.5) 		57.2
(14.0) 		66.8
(19.3) 		77.1
(25.1) 		81.9
(27.7) 		79.8
(26.6) 		71.6
(22.0) 		58.8
(14.9) 		45.6
(7.6) 		35.0
(1.7) 		57.5
(14.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21.7
(−5.7) 		25.2
(−3.8) 		34.9
(1.6) 		44.7
(7.1) 		54.7
(12.6) 		64.8
(18.2) 		69.4
(20.8) 		67.4
(19.7) 		58.9
(14.9) 		46.4
(8.0) 		34.1
(1.2) 		24.5
(−4.2) 		45.6
(7.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 1.6
(−16.9) 		6.1
(−14.4) 		15.2
(−9.3) 		27.5
(−2.5) 		38.9
(3.8) 		52.1
(11.2) 		59.0
(15.0) 		56.5
(13.6) 		42.5
(5.8) 		28.1
(−2.2) 		16.7
(−8.5) 		6.7
(−14.1) 		−2.3
(−19.1)
Record low °F (°C) −20
(−29) 		−29
(−34) 		−9
(−23) 		9
(−13) 		27
(−3) 		34
(1) 		44
(7) 		41
(5) 		23
(−5) 		16
(−9) 		−6
(−21) 		−24
(−31) 		−29
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.86
(22) 		1.43
(36) 		2.23
(57) 		3.26
(83) 		5.20
(132) 		4.18
(106) 		4.75
(121) 		4.27
(108) 		2.54
(65) 		2.47
(63) 		1.59
(40) 		1.50
(38) 		34.28
(871)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 4.1
(10) 		2.8
(7.1) 		1.7
(4.3) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.2
(0.51) 		1.0
(2.5) 		2.2
(5.6) 		12.2
(30.52)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 3.9 4.0 6.6 7.6 10.2 8.2 8.5 8.1 5.9 6.4 4.5 4.3 78.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 2.4 1.4 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.6 1.9 7.4
Source 1: NOAA[23]
Source 2: National Weather Service[22]

Economy

Abilene remains a cattle yard town, loading onto the rail system, along with grain and other crops.[2]

It is the birthplace of Sprint Telecommunications.[24]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18802,360—
18903,54750.3%
19003,507−1.1%
19104,11817.4%
19204,89518.9%
19305,65815.6%
19405,6710.2%
19505,7751.8%
19606,74616.8%
19706,661−1.3%
19806,572−1.3%
19906,242−5.0%
20006,5434.8%
20106,8444.6%
20206,460−5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
2010-2020[5]

2020 census

The

Latino of any race was 5.65% (365) of the population.[29]

Of the 2,797 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18; 44.7% were married couples living together; 30.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 35.8% of households consisted of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[26] The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.9.[30] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 21.2% of the population.[31]

23.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.9 males.[26] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 111.9 males.[26]

The 2016-2020 5-year

poverty line, including 9.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.5% of those ages 65 or over.[34][35]

2010 census

As of the

Latino of any race.[37]

There were 2,878 households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33, and the average family size was 2.97.[37]

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males age 18 and over.[37]

The city's median household income was $48,115, and the median family income was $61,146. Males had a median income of $42,332 versus $29,325 for females. The city's

poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.[37]

Education

The community is served by Abilene USD 435 public school district.

Transportation

The former Rock Island Depot is a gift shop for the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad (2010).

Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 run concurrently east–west immediately north of Abilene, intersecting highway K-15, which runs north–south through the city.[18]

Abilene Municipal Airport is on the city's southwest side. Publicly owned, it has one asphalt runway and is used predominantly for general aviation.[38]

The Kansas Pacific (KP) line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs east–west through the city.[19][39] It intersects a BNSF Railway line which enters the city from the east and then turns north.[40]

The city of Abilene provided

demand responsive transport.[41]

Media

Print

Abilene has one daily newspaper, The Abilene Reflector-Chronicle.[42]

Radio

The following

radio stations are licensed
to Abilene:

AM

Frequency
Callsign[43]
 Format[44]
City of License
 		Notes
1560 KABI
Adult Standards/MOR
 Abilene, Kansas -

FM

Frequency
Callsign[45]
 Format[46]
City of License
 		Notes
94.1
K231AW
 Religious Abilene, Kansas
KAKA, Salina, Kansas[47]
98.5 KSAJ-FM Oldies Abilene, Kansas Broadcasts from Salina, Kansas[48]

Television

Abilene is in the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market.[49]

Points of interest

Lebold Mansion

Cultural

Cowboy-era Abilene is the fictional setting for the Randolph Scott-starring 1946 film Abilene Town, which in turn became the inspiration behind the 1963 hit song "Abilene", recorded by George Hamilton IV.

British singer-songwriter John Cale's song "Buffalo Ballet" from his 1975 album "Fear" reflects a cynical view of the town's history from the days it was "young and gay" until it "drowned in wealth and pain", as an example of the expansion of the American Frontier.

The main storyline of western video game Call of Juarez: Gunslinger is at Abilene.

The much larger city of Abilene, Texas takes its name from Abilene, Kansas.[2][55]

Notable people

Dwight D. Eisenhower
See also: List of people from Dickinson County, Kansas

Old West figures who lived in Abilene during its period as a cowtown included Wild Bill Hickok, cattle baron Joseph McCoy, gambler Phil Coe, marshal Tom "Bear River" Smith, gunfighters Pat Desmond, John Wesley Hardin, and Ben Thompson, and Thompson's sister-in-law Libby, a prostitute and dance hall girl.[56][57] President of the United States and five-star general Dwight D. Eisenhower grew up in Abilene as did his brothers Edgar, Earl, and Milton.[58][59] Eisenhower is buried in Abilene, along with his wife Mamie and their eldest son Doud, on the grounds of his presidential library.[60]

Other notable individuals who have lived in Abilene include these:

Sister cities

See also

References

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  2. ^
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  3. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Profile of Abilene, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Abilene, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  6. hdl:2027/mdp.39015047651115
    .
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  9. ^ "Chisholm Trail". Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. at the Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.
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  12. ISBN 978-0792270218
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  40. ^ "Kansas Operating Division" (PDF). BNSF Railway. January 1, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
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  47. ^ "K231AW-FM Radio Station Information". Radio-Locator. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  48. ^ "Contact Us". KSAJ-FM. Archived from the original on January 5, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
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  68. ^ "F. D. Parent, Retired City Judge, Dies at 81: Inglewood Man, Who Served on Bench 28 Years, Coached Eisenhower in High School.", Los Angeles Times, p. B1, June 20, 1960
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Further reading

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
See also: List of books about Dickinson County, Kansas
See also: List of books about Chisholm Trail

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abilene, Kansas.
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