BlockBefore

Taylor County, Texas

64 topographic sheets cover 23 settlements here, and 63 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

63 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Texas within the United States
Taylor County within Texas
Explore by year 1879 1885

What the record shows

  • 330 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 63 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 58 buildings and 5 districts.
  • 2 of the 63 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 23 populated places in this county; 23 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

63

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
1915 Taylor County Courthousebuilding199292000225
Abilene Christian College Administration Buildingbuilding199292000193
Abilene Commercial Historic Districtdistrict199191001811
Abilene Courtsbuilding201515000338
Abilene Fire Station No. 2building199292000200
Abilene High Schoolbuilding201212000588
Abilene Street Railway Company Barnbuilding199292000205
Abilene and Northern Railway Company Depotbuilding200492000191
William and Mary Ackers Housebuilding199292000214
Alexander-Campbell Housebuilding199696000308
Bankhead Highway Historic Districtdistrict199898001414
Thomas L. Blanton Housebuilding199292000234
Borden Companybuilding2024100010209
Boyd-Hall Housebuilding199292000229
Caldwell Hallbuilding199292000206
W. A. V. Cash Housebuilding199292000195
David S. Castle Housebuilding199292000218
George R. Davis Housebuilding199292000237
O. D. and Ada Dillingham Housebuilding199292000199
Dodd-Harkrider Housebuilding199292000222
J. W. Evans Housebuilding199292000204
Federal Buildingbuilding199292000228
Eugene L. Finley Housebuilding199292000210
First Presbyterian Churchbuilding199292000226
David C. and Docia Fritz Housebuilding199292000215
William J. Fulwiler Housebuilding201892000192
Albert S. and Ruth Goodloe Housebuilding199292000232
Roland A. D. Green Housebuilding199292000207
J. G. Higginbotham Housebuilding199292000236
Hilton Hotelbuilding199385003658
House at 1127 Ash Streetbuilding199292000196
Ed S. Hughes Company Warehousebuilding199292000224
A. T. Jones Housebuilding199292000212
C. A. Lanius Housebuilding199292000221
Luce Hallbuilding199292000194
J. D. Magee Housebuilding199292000220
George W. and Lavina McDaniel Housebuilding199292000201
McDonald Hallbuilding199292000219
McMurry College Administration Buildingbuilding199292000209
William A. Minter Housebuilding199292000198
Charles Motz Housebuilding199292000216
Old Taylor County Courthouse and Jailbuilding197878002984
Paramount Theaterbuilding198282001739
Parramore Historic Districtdistrict199191001153
D. D. Parramore Housebuilding199292000230
James M. Radford Grocery Company Warehousebuilding199292000223
Jhules Reading Housebuilding199292000231
Nathan J. and Nancy Roberts Housebuilding199292000235
Sacred Heart Catholic Churchbuilding199292000233
Sayles Boulevard Historic Districtdistrict199292000095
Henry Sayles Housebuilding197676002069
State Epileptic Colony Historic Districtdistrict199191001539
William and Evla Stith Housebuilding199292000213
William and Shirley Swenson Housebuilding198787002148
Oscar P. Thomas Housebuilding199292000203
Travis Elementary School and Cafetoriumbuilding2023100008557
U.S. Weather Bureau Buildingbuilding198282004524
Universal Manufacturing Company Buildingbuilding199292000208
West Texas Utilities Company Power Plantbuilding199292000217
E. D. Williamson Housebuilding199292000202
Horace O. Wooten Grocery Company Warehousebuilding199292000238
Horace O. Wooten Housebuilding199292000197
Zabloudil-Hendrick Housebuilding199292000227

Bird's-eye views and land ownership maps

3

Drawn when these were printed as single large sheets: the town seen from the air, and the county divided into its farms with every owner named. Each opens the original at the Library of Congress.

Land ownership map, 1879 - Map of Taylor Co., Texas
Land ownership map (1879) - Map of Taylor Co., Texas. Library of Congress.
Land ownership map, 189? - Map of Taylor County, Texas
Land ownership map (189?) - Map of Taylor County, Texas. Library of Congress.
Land ownership map, 1885 - Map of Abilene
Land ownership map (1885) - Map of Abilene. Library of Congress.

Photographs from libraries nationwide

6 of 10 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 10 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

Grande Lodge, Abilene, Texas, Boston Public Library - undated
Grande Lodge, Abilene, Texas. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Mack Eplen's Restaurant, Abilene, Texas, Boston Public Library - undated
Mack Eplen's Restaurant, Abilene, Texas. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Alamo Motel -- Abilene, Texas, Boston Public Library - undated
Alamo Motel -- Abilene, Texas. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Ponca Motel, U.S. Highway 80 - 84, west side in city limits, Abilene, Texas, Boston Public Library - undated
Ponca Motel, U.S. Highway 80 - 84, west side in city limits, Abilene, Texas. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Casey's Triple "AAA" Restaurant, world's most famous tourist stop, Boston Public Library - undated
Casey's Triple "AAA" Restaurant, world's most famous tourist stop. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Plains Machinery Co., Boston Public Library - undated
Plains Machinery Co.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

36 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 1,425 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 36 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-01-21, scale 1:69000
1953-01-21, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-01-21, scale 1:69000
1953-01-21, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-01-21, scale 1:69000
1953-01-21, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-01-21, scale 1:69000
1953-01-21, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-04-20, scale 1:63000
1954-04-20, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-04-20, scale 1:63000
1954-04-20, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-04-20, scale 1:63000
1954-04-20, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-04-20, scale 1:63000
1954-04-20, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-15, scale 1:18600
1966-01-15, scale 1:18600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-15, scale 1:18600
1966-01-15, scale 1:18600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-15, scale 1:18600
1966-01-15, scale 1:18600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-15, scale 1:18600
1966-01-15, scale 1:18600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-09-29, scale 1:24800
1967-09-29, scale 1:24800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-09-29, scale 1:24800
1967-09-29, scale 1:24800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-09-29, scale 1:24800
1967-09-29, scale 1:24800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-09-29, scale 1:24800
1967-09-29, scale 1:24800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-03-20, scale 1:21670
1969-03-20, scale 1:21670. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-03-20, scale 1:21670
1969-03-20, scale 1:21670. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-03-20, scale 1:21670
1969-03-20, scale 1:21670. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-03-20, scale 1:21670
1969-03-20, scale 1:21670. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-21, scale 1:60152
1973-08-21, scale 1:60152. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-21, scale 1:60152
1973-08-21, scale 1:60152. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-21, scale 1:59008
1973-08-21, scale 1:59008. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-21, scale 1:59008
1973-08-21, scale 1:59008. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-01-01, scale 1:25600
1974-01-01, scale 1:25600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-01-01, scale 1:25600
1974-01-01, scale 1:25600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-01-01, scale 1:25600
1974-01-01, scale 1:25600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-01-01, scale 1:25600
1974-01-01, scale 1:25600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-01-20, scale 1:80000
1975-01-20, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-01-20, scale 1:80000
1975-01-20, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-01-20, scale 1:80000
1975-01-20, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-01-20, scale 1:80000
1975-01-20, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-12-01, scale 1:23200
1976-12-01, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-12-01, scale 1:23200
1976-12-01, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-12-01, scale 1:23200
1976-12-01, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-12-01, scale 1:23200
1976-12-01, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

26 stations, 6 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

89 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 221-1Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; N. 15th, City limits; Almond, City limits
  • 221-2Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 15th; City limits; City limits; City limits
  • 221-3Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits, Almond; N. 13th; Pine
  • 221-4Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by Vogel; City limits, Pine; N. 13th; Hickory
  • 221-5AJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by Vogel; Hickory; Boulevard, Simmons Ave., N. 20th; Grape, University Blvd., Simmons Ave.
  • 221-5BJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; Vogel; Simmons Ave.
  • 221-6AJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by Vogel; Grape; N. 20th; Victoria, Ambler, Clinton, Alley between Ambler and Sandefer, Victoria
  • 221-6BJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits; Simmons Ave.; University Blvd., Grape, Vogel, Victoria, Alley between Ambler and Sandefer, Clinton, Ambler; City limits
  • 221-7BJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits, N. 19th; Alley between Victoria and Lillius; N. 12th; City limits
  • 221-7AJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits, Ambler; Victoria, N. 20th, Clinton, N. 14th, Clinton; N. 12th; Alley between Victoria and Lillius, N. 19th, City limits
  • 221-8Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 20th; Grape; N. 15th; Clinton
  • 221-9Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 20th, Simmons, Boulevard; Hickory; N. 16th, Peach, N. 16th; Grape
  • 221-10Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 16th, Peach, N. 16th; Hickory; N. 13th; Grape
  • 221-11Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 13th; Cedar; N. 10th; Grape
  • 221-12Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 15th; Grape; State; Clinton, N. 14th, Clinton
  • 221-13Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 12th; Clinton; State; City limits
  • 221-14Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by State; Lillius, N. 8th, Lillius, N. 6th, Graham; N. 3rd; City limits
  • 221-15Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by State; Grape; N. 3rd; Graham, N. 6th, Lillius, N. 8th, Lillius
  • 221-16Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 10th; Cedar; N. 7th; Grape
  • 221-17Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 13th; Mesquite; N. 7th; Cedar
  • 221-18Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 13th; City limits; N. 7th; Mesquite
  • 221-19BJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; City limits; City limits, Cedar Creek, City limits
  • 221-19AJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 7th, City limits; Cedar Creek, City limits; N. 2nd, Abilene & Northern Railroad, N. 4th; Plum
  • 221-20Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part excluding Windsor and Wooten Hotels Bounded by N. 7th; Plum; N. 3rd; Cedar
  • 221-21Windsor Hotel (In Abilene city, Justice Precinct 1)
  • 221-22Wooten Hotel (In Abilene city, Justice Precinct 1)
  • 221-23Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 7th; Cedar; N. 4th; Grape
  • 221-24Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 3rd; Grape; Texas and Pacific Railway; City limits
  • 221-25Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 4th; Cedar; Texas and Pacific Railway; Grape
  • 221-26Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by N. 3rd, Plum, N. 4th, Abilene & Northern Railroad, N. 2nd; City limits; Texas and Pacific Railway; Cedar
  • 221-27Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by Texas and Pacific Railway; City limits; S. 4th, China, S. 6th; Locust
  • 221-28Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by Texas and Pacific Railway; Locust; S. 4th; Butternut
  • 221-29Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 4th; Locust; S. 7th; Butternut
  • 221-30Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by Texas and Pacific Railway; Butternut; S. 7th; Peach, S. 1st, Grape
  • 221-31Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by Texas and Pacific Railway; Grape, S. 1st, Peach; S. 7th; Sayles Blvd., Graham
  • 221-32Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits, Texas and Pacific Railway; Graham, Sayles Blvd.; S. 7th; Portland Ave.
  • 221-33Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits; Portland Ave.; S. 3rd; Caru
  • 221-34Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 3rd; Portland Ave.; S. 7th; Sunset Dr.
  • 221-35Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits; Caru, S. 3rd, Sunset Dr.; S. 7th; City limits
  • 221-36AJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by Ward Dr., City limits, S. 7th; Willis; S. 9th, Elmwood Dr., City limits; City limits, Alley west of Leggett Dr., Alley south of Monticello, Lexington
  • 221-36BJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; Ward Dr., Lexington, Alley south of Monticello, Alley west of Leggett Dr., City limits; City limits .
  • 221-37Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 9th; Willis, S. 12th, Albany; City limits; Elmwood Dr.
  • 221-38Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 7th; Ross; S. 11th; Willis
  • 221-39Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 7th; Sayles Blvd.; S. 12th; Ross
  • 221-40Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 7th; Jeanette; S. 11th; Sayles Blvd.
  • 221-41Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 7th; Butternut; S. 11th; Jeanette
  • 221-42Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 7th; Locust; S. 11th; Butternut
  • 221-43Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 6th, China, S. 4th; City limits; City limits, S. 14th, Rose, S. 11th; Locust
  • 221-44Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 11th; Rose, S. 14th, City limits; City limits; City limits, Locust
  • 221-45Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 11th; Locust; S. 14th, Oak, S. 14th; Butternut
  • 221-46Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 11th; Butternut; S. 14th, Cedar Gap Rd., Minter Ave.; Jeanette
  • 221-47Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 11th; Jeanette; Minter Ave.; Sayles Blvd.
  • 221-48Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part excluding an area entirely surrounded by Abilene city but not a part thereof located as follows: S. 14th, Matador, S. 15th, and alley east of Barrow Bounded by S. 14th, Marshall, S. 12th; Sayles Blvd.; Hunt; City limits, alley east of Barrow, City limits
  • 221-49BJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 14th; City limits, 1st Alley east of Barrow, City limits; City limits; City limits
  • 221-49AJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 11th; Ross, S. 12th, Marshall; S. 14th, City limits, S. 14th, City limits; Albany, S. 12th, Willis
  • 221-50Justice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by Hunt; Sayles Blvd.; City limits; City limits
  • 221-51AJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by Minter Ave.; Cedar Gap Rd., City limits; Cedar Gap Rd., S. 20th, Alley east of Sayles Blvd., City limits, Alley east of Sayles Blvd., City limits; Sayles Blvd.
  • 221-51BJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part excluding an area entirely surrounded by Abilene city, but not a part thereof which is located as follows: south of Murpre, east of Meander, north of S. 21st and east of Alley east of Sayles Blvd. Bounded by S. 20th; Cedar Gap Rd., S. 23rd, Palm, S. 22nd, City limits; City limits; City limits, Alley east of Sayles Blvd., City limits, Alley east of Sayles Blvd.
  • 221-52BJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part Bounded by S. 16th extended; City limits (Poplar); City limits (Westway Dr.); Cedar Gap Rd.
  • 221-52AJustice Precinct 1: Abilene city - That part excluding an area entirely surrounded by Abilene city, but not a part thereof which is located as follows: south of Westway Dr. and S. 16th extended, west of Alley west of Belmont Blvd., north of S. 20th and east of Cedar Gap Rd. and Poplar Bounded by S. 14th, Oak, S. 14th; Locust, City limits; City limits, S. 22nd, Palm, S. 23rd; Cedar Gap Rd., City limits, S. 16th extended, Cedar Gap Rd. .
  • 221-53Justice Precinct 1: North Park, unincorporated (See boundaries shown on aerial photo CLO-2-40)
  • 221-54Justice Precinct 1 - That part north of Texas and Pacific Railway and east of Wichita Valley Railway, outside Abilene city and North Park, unincorporated (See aerial photo CLO-2-40 for boundaries of North Park)
  • 221-55Justice Precinct 1 - That part west of Wichita Valley Railway and north of Texas & Pacific Railroad, outside Abilene city and North Park, unincorporated (See aerial photo CLO-2-40 for boundaries of North Park)
  • 221-56CJustice Precinct 1 - That part south of Texas and Pacific Railway, west of Imaginary line extending south from Texas and Pacific Railway to State Highway 158 and northwest of State Highway 158
  • 221-56BJustice Precinct 1 - That part entirely surrounded by Abilene city, but not a part thereof located as follows: S. 14th, Matador, S. 15th and Alley east of Barrow
  • 221-56AJustice precinct 1 - That part south of Texas and Pacific Railway, west of State Highway 89, southeast of State Highway 158 and east of Imaginary line extending north from State Highway 158 to Texas and Pacific Railway, outside Abilene city
  • 221-57CJustice Precinct 1 - That part entirely surrounded by Abilene city, but not a part thereof, which is located as follows: South of Murpre, west of Meander, north of S. 21st, and east of Alley east of Sayles Blvd.
  • 221-57BJustice Precinct 1 - That part entirely surrounded by Abilene city limits, but not a part thereof, which is located as follows: South of Westway Dr. and S. 16th extended, west of Alley west of Belmont Blvd., north of S. 20th, and east of Cedar Gap Rd. and Poplar
  • 221-57AJustice Precinct 1 - That part west of Lytle Creek and east of State Highway 89, outside Abilene city, excluding Abilene State Hospital
  • 221-58Abilene State Hospital (In Justice Precinct 1 )
  • 221-59Justice Precinct 1 - That part south of Texas and Pacific Railway and east of Lytle Creek, outside Abilene city
  • 221-60Justice Precinct 2: Tuscola town
  • 221-61Justice Precinct 2 - That part east of Unnamed road extending north from precinct line to State Highway 89 and east of State Highway 89, outside Tuscola town
  • 221-62Justice Precinct 2 - That part west of State Highway 89 and Unnamed road extending south from State Highway 89 to precinct line
  • 221-63Justice Precinct 3
  • 221-64Justice Precinct 4
  • 221-65Justice Precinct 5: Merkel city: Merkel city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; Texas and Pacific Railway; Kent
  • 221-66Justice Precinct 5: Merkel city - That part Bounded by City limits; Kent; Texas and Pacific Railway; City limits
  • 221-67AJustice Precinct 6: Merkel city - That part Bounded by Texas and Pacific Railway; Oak; City limits, Combs, City limits, Combs, City limits; City limits
  • 221-67BJustice Precinct 6: Merkel city - Two areas lying south of Combs street divided by Merkel City limits
  • 221-68Justice Precinct 5: Merkel city - That part Bounded by Texas and Pacific Railway; City limits; City limits; Oak
  • 221-69Justice Precinct 5 - That part north of Texas and Pacific Railway, outside Merkel city
  • 221-70Justice Precinct 5 - That part south of Texas and Pacific Railway and north of Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway, outside Merkel city
  • 221-71Justice Precinct 5 - That part south of Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway
  • 221-72Justice Precinct 6: Lawn town
  • 221-73Justice Precinct 6 - That part outside Lawn town
  • 221-74Justice Precinct 7: Trent town
  • 221-75Justice Precinct 7 - That part outside Trent town
  • 221-76Justice Precinct 8

Wildfire, 2003 to 2020

1,690 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 1,690 of them, burning about 24,501 acres. 63 started naturally and 40 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined591
Debris and open burning464
Equipment and vehicle use270
Power generation/transmission/distribution145
Smoking67
Natural63
Arson/incendiarism40
Recreation and ceremony20
Misuse of fire by a minor14
Railroad operations and maintenance13
Fireworks2
Firearms and explosives use1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
24 February 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined3,026 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceRHODES RANCH FIRE
29 January 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,469 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceUNION HILL FIRE
13 July 2006Equipment and vehicle use1,258 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceLEWIS CANYON FIRE
15 July 2006Equipment and vehicle use1,200 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
14 July 2006Equipment and vehicle use1,200 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
27 April 2014Natural1,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCAMP BARKLEY
24 February 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined650 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceBRADSHAW FIRE
22 June 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined644 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceTRENT MESA FIRE

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1951 to 2026

60 of 1,097 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 1,097 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 52 injuries and about $471,923,180 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail562
Thunderstorm Wind361
Flash Flood78
Tornado69
Flood16
Funnel Cloud5
Lightning4
Heavy Rain2

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 1985Tornado (F2)not stated1 killed, $250,000no account filed
August 2007Flash FloodGuion1 killed, $30,000A woman was swept away by raging waters near the intersection of U.S. Highway 277 and Farm Road 89 as she attempted to escape her vehicle which had become stranded in flood waters.
June 2014HailHamby12 hurt, $400,000,000no account filed
May 1990Thunderstorm Windnot stated10 hurtno account filed
June 1951Tornado (F1)not stated6 hurt, $250,000no account filed
March 1982Tornado (F3)not stated5 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
June 2002HailTye5 hurt, $150,000Baseball size hail moved through the community of Tye causing significant damage to homes and automobiles. Five people were injured by the hail and broken glass.
July 1962Tornado (F1)not stated5 hurtno account filed
March 2004Tornado (F2)Tuscola2 hurt, $800,000A quickly moving tornado tore a 10 mile path through southern Taylor County. This tornado hit the community of Tuscola, where it damaged the Jim Ned high school injuring two people.
December 2015Thunderstorm WindMulberry Canyon2 hurtThere were two injuries from damaging thunderstorm winds. One woman had a twisted ankle, and one man was hit by flying debris. The damage included six vehicle windows were broken, gutters were ripped off of a structure and wrapped around a tree, two 75 pound pots were thrown and a large sign was thrown into a truck. Also, a few trees were blown down.
May 1976Tornado (F3)not stated1 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
March 1973Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
April 1998Thunderstorm WindAbilene1 hurt, $2,000A skylight at the mall was shattered, with falling glass injuring a child below.
June 1988Hailnot stated1 hurtno account filed
August 1984Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 hurtno account filed
July 2002Flash FloodCountywide$15,000,000The tropical wave that had plagued south central Texas over the past several days moved to the north on the morning of the 6th. Thunderstorms moved into Taylor county around 3 AM. Rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour produced rainfall amounts of up to 12 inches in the southern portions of the county. A fire station on the south side of Abilene reported 5.2 inches of rain in less than 2 hours. The automated weather station at the Abilene airport reported 4 inches in 2 hours. This rainfall produced flooding of low water crossings and some creek flooding during the morning in Abilene. Worse flooding was yet to come however, as the heaviest rains occurred to the south of Abilene, in the Buffalo Gap, Tuscola, Ovalo and Lake Abilene areas. Water from these areas flowed in the Elm Creek, Cat Claw Creek, and Ceader Creek, then into the city of Abilene. Cat Claw Creek, and Elm Creek crested at record levels on the evening of the 6th. The flood waters did not recede significantly until the evening of the 7th. Around 1000 residents had to evacuate to higher ground. The flooding throughout the county resulted in significant property damage with 31 homes destroyed, 339 receiving major damage, and 322 received minor damage.
May 2019Tornado (EF2)(Dys)Dyess Afb Abile$10,000,000This tornado began on the southeast corner of Dyess Air Force Base and damaged some roofs and destroyed a shed. The tornado moved northeast towards Abilene and impacted several residential neighborhoods on both sides of the Winters Freeway located on the west side of Abilene. It damaged many roofs, blew out windows, uprooted trees and damaged tree limbs. The tornado strengthened to an EF-2 as it crossed South 6th street, completely removing several roofs from residential homes. According to the City of Abilene, about 390 homes were affected. Of these homes, about 336 homes had minor roof damage, 46 homes had major damage and eight homes were destroyed by the tornado.
August 2007Flash FloodPotosi$10,000,000Flooding was reported along Cedar Creek. Water entered homes along FM1750. Water entered approximately 10 homes and washed out several roads.
August 2007FloodAbilene$5,000,000Excessive rainfall from heavy rains Friday night into Saturday morning across southwest Taylor County caused water to spill over the main spillway at Lake Abilene. This water flowed into Elm Creek and flooded several streets, homes, and businesses in the City of Abilene Sunday morning, prompting the Abilene Emergency Operations Center to call for a mandatory evacuation of the affected locations.
June 2014HailAbilene Elmdale Arpt$4,000,000A report of large hail measured at 4.5 inches was received from the Severe Hazards Analysis and Verification Experiment affiliated with the National Severe Storms Laboratory. The vicious hail storm struck during the Abilene Art Walk childrens parade. The Taylor County Sheriffs Office reported up to a dozen people were treated for various injuries. About six of the injured were parade-goers who experienced minor head injuries from the hailstones. Substantial damage was reported in downtown Abilene and on the citys east side. Forty-eight Abilene patrol cars were heavily damaged. The Abilene Fire Department shut down Fire Station 4 at 1909 W. Stamford St. due to rain and hail damage. Local law enforcement reported several offices in downtown Abilene had windows broken, many of the trees in the downtown area were stripped of their leaves and many limbs were down in the street.
May 2001HailAbilene$4,000,000Baseball size hail pounded the eastern sections of Abilene. The area around Abilene Christian University was the hardest hit, with numerous windows broken at the school. Many vehicles were hard hit as well, with windshields broken out and holes punched through the roofs of convertibles.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindDyess Afb$3,300,000Winds estimated at 105 mph did extensive damage across Dyess AFB. Several buildings suffered extensive roof damage and 3 airplanes were damaged.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindAbilene Muni Arpt$2,000,000A wind gust to 52 knots (60 mph) was recorded at the Abilene Municipal Airport at 1702 CST but wind gusts to 70 to 80 mph were reported throughout the city of Abilene. Many trees were uprooted and there was considerable roof damage. Power was lost for several thousand customers.
October 2000Flash FloodAbilene$2,000,000no account filed
June 1996HailAbilene$1,000,000no account filed
August 1997Thunderstorm Wind(Abi)Abilene Muni Ar$800,000A brief but brisk storm knocked a few trees to the ground while disrupting power to a broad but shallow slice of north central Abilene. There was also significant damage at the Abilene airport. The wind lifted the roof off one large hangar and several aircraft were damaged.
May 2019Tornado (EF1)Abilene$750,000A National Weather Service survey team surveyed this tornado on June 13, and |found evidence of another tornado track. This EF-1 tornado began on the north side |of Abilene and tracked north northeast into Jones County. This twister tore the roof of a metal building, blew out windows and damaged an exterior wall on the north side of Abilene. The twister also ripped up a billboard and flipped over an eighteen wheeler. As the tornado continued to travel north northeast, it damaged or uprooted trees as it moved into Jones County. It tore off part of the roofs of two residences and damaged trees and outbuildings in Jones County just northwest of Fort Phantom Lake. This tornado was also videotaped on the north side of Abilene.
August 2007Flash FloodView$500,000Serious flash flooding was occurring along Elm Creek near Highway 277 and 606 where two houses were washed into the creek.
June 1997Flash FloodAbilene$500,000Torrential rain, up to three inches an hour, in northern Taylor County flooded service roads along Interstate 20 in Abilene. Many city streets were flooded with stalled cars in the floodwaters. Elm Creek, which flows through Abilene was high and wide with large trees floating down the creek. South of the city, water flowed over the spillway at Lake Abilene and Abilene State Park was evacuated. In nearby Buffalo Gap, floodwaters entered some homes.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindAbilene Regional Airp$500,000High winds damaged one hangar, destroyed another, and damaged 20 planes.
October 1994Thunderstorm WindAbilene$500,000A large steel beam sign was blown down at a service station, crushing three cars.
April 1993Tornado (F1)Potosi$500,000A gust front tornado moved across eastern Taylor County in the Potosi area and had a damage path approximately 5 miles long and 100-200 yards wide. Extensive damage to homes, businesses, cars, and trees.
June 1996Flash FloodAbilene$500,000no account filed
October 2018FloodAbilene Bttrfld Arpt$394,000Prolonged heavy rainfall flooded roads across Taylor County and this flooding damaged some roads in the county.
May 2013LightningAbilene$250,000Lightning struck the Trinity Church of the Nazarene in the 3300 block of State Street. A church official estimated the damage to be two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
June 1997HailLawn$250,000Nickel to golfball sized hail fell along a path from Lawn to the city of Abilene.
May 1997Flash FloodAbilene$250,000Heavy rainfall occurred overnight May 14-15. This rain resulted from an upper level low pressure system that moved across west central Texas and combined with numerous outflow boundaries from earlier thunderstorms. A large area of one to two inch rainfall occurred from a line from southwest Crockett County through San Angelo to Albany in Shackelford County. A few spots received up to three inches of rain. Flash flood warnings were issued for several counties with street flooding reported in Abilene. Floodwaters entered some homes in Abilene.
May 1996Thunderstorm Wind(Dys)Dyess Afb Abile$250,000no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindAbilene$250,000no account filed
March 1982Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 1978Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
May 1997HailAbilene$200,000Hail up to golfball-size fell over the city of Abilene and surrounding areas.
April 2011HailAbilene$150,000This large softball size hail was reported near the Abilene Mall and busted automobile windshields and damaged roofs in the area. Many insurance adjusters came to the area.
March 2004Tornado (F1)Potosi$150,000This tornado started near the Potosi community and moved to the northeast before crossing into western Callahan County.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindAbilene$100,000A roof was blown off the Century Lodge on South 1st Street.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindBradshaw$100,000no account filed
June 1997Flash FloodAbilene$100,000no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm Wind(Abi)Abilene Muni Ar$100,000no account filed
September 1996Flash FloodAbilene$100,000no account filed
September 1996Thunderstorm WindAbilene$100,000no account filed
August 1996Flash FloodMerkel$100,000no account filed
July 1995Thunderstorm WindAbilene$75,000Widespread wind damage was reported across Abilene, including numerous reports of trees blown down, roof and fence damage, and damage to signs and carports. A 100 foot radio tower was blown down on the east side of town.
March 2020Tornado (EF1)Tye$60,000Power flashes were reported by local law enforcement officials on the south side of Tye. |A NWS Storm Survey verified the tornado mostly impacted the south side of Tye. The tornado took the roof of a manufactured home on the south side of Tye, it damaged playground equipment at Ryster Park, and destroyed a nearby metal carport. This EF-1 tornado touched down briefly. Tye Police assisted with this damage survey.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindTye$60,000A roof was blown off a house, a cinder block building received heavy damage which included two-thirds of the south wall and a large roll-up door was blown down. Also, several power lines were blown down.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindBuffalo Gap$60,000Several power poles were reported snapped near Buffalo Gap. Also, a roof was blown off a home and trees were uprooted.
March 2004Thunderstorm WindTye$60,000Eighty MPH thunderstorm winds damaged several manufactured homes.
May 2005HailAbilene$50,000Tennis ball size hail caused damage to several vehicles and homes.
May 1994Thunderstorm WindLawn$50,000A barn was blown down by strong winds. Hamilton County 5 E Hamilton,29,2020CST,,,0,0,3,0,Thunderstorm Winds A large tree limb was down on Highway 2905. Thunderstorm winds unroofed a house.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindView$50,000no account filed
June 1997Thunderstorm WindAbilene$50,000no account filed

Mines and quarries

8 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 8 workings inside this county. 3 still produce and 5 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Copper5
Sand and Gravel, Construction1
Clay1
Stone, Crushed/Broken1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Abilene Brick Co PitClayProducer
Plant No. 3Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Whites Mines Buzzard Mtn View QyStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Abilene Lake-1CopperOccurrence1918
Bear Cove-1CopperPast Producer1885, 1920
Buffalo Gap-1CopperOccurrence1891
Kendall-1CopperOccurrence1916
Lytle Cove-1CopperOccurrence1887

Every populated place in the county

23

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.