Population150,077 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
Community Stories and Parkland in the Big Country
Taylor County, TexasTaylor County centers on Abilene within the West Texas region, with smaller communities and outdoor destinations adding different perspectives on county life. Abilene is both the county seat and largest city. Abilene State Park provides one place to experience the landscape beyond the city, with its own history of public recreation. Choose a particular community or park activity as the starting point, then connect nearby destinations into a visit that leaves time to explore.
Taylor County at a Glance
Population150,077 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
County SeatAbilene
Largest CityAbilene
Established1858 (organized 1878)
ZIP Codes21
Total Area919.3 sq mi (2,381 km 2 )
Major RoutesInterstate 20 Interstate 20 Business U.S. Highway 83 U.S. Highway 84 U.S. Highway 277 State Highway 36 State Highway 153 State Highway 351 Loop 322
Area Code325
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Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
Discover the County
Taylor County
Taylor County was created in 1858 and organized in 1878. It was named for Edward, George and James Taylor, three brothers who died at the Alamo. The county was formed from Bexar and Travis counties, and Abilene is its present seat. Transportation routes, including the Butterfield Overland Mail, formed part of the area’s nineteenth-century history. A later public chapter is represented by Civilian Conservation Corps work at Abilene State Park, linking local recreation with national programs of the 1930s.
Abilene State Park offers a destination for outdoor time beyond the county seat. Check current alerts before planning a visit around any particular facility, especially the historic swimming pool, whose renovation closure was extended in 2026. The park’s history page adds context to its Civilian Conservation Corps features. An outing can complement time in Abilene, with the city and park explored as separate places rather than assuming that a shared name means they are immediately adjacent.
What Shapes Us
Abilene
The county seat is also its largest city. Abilene provides a starting point for county information and a community base for exploring destinations nearby.
State Park History
Civilian Conservation Corps work forms part of Abilene State Park’s story. The official history page connects its recreational landscape with public projects of the 1930s.
Check Facility Alerts
Individual park facilities can have different access conditions. Consult current notices before planning an outing around swimming, camping or another specific activity at the park.
Big Country communities connect travel routes with local experiences.
My Local Guide
Taylor County
Our County. Our Stories.
The Texas Tribune — Statewide
TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?
Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.
Read the Story Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
News & resources for Taylor County
Local reporting when available, plus statewide Texas news and official resources.
TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?
Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Democrat Jon Rosenthal outraises Bo French in Railroad Commission race in latest report
A big chunk of Rosenthal’s haul came after French’s racist social media comments following a UT-Austin football game…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Greg Abbott outraised Gina Hinojosa but burned through much of his campaign cash in Texas governor’s race
Abbott outspent Hinojosa 6-to-1 from July to late September, but the governor’s narrow polling lead was largely unchanged…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Law enforcement Democrat, GOP Air Force vet upend partisan script in race for new San Antonio U.S. House district
The 35th Congressional District was redrawn to elect a Republican, but Latino voters’ brewing leftward shift has put…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
These are the most competitive November races up and down Texas’ midterm ballot
Texas has an unusually large slate of competitive races for the state Legislature and U.S. House this year.…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Useful connections for everyday life
Find public information and services through the county and relevant service providers.
Government
County & local resources
Taylor County government
Public offices, departments, records and resident services.
Taylor County Tax Office — vehicle titles and registration
Tax office information, payments and available services.
Address 400 Oak Street, Ste 105, Abilene, Texas 79602, Taylor County Plaza
Phone (325) 674-1224
Food, housing & family support
Food Bank of West Central Texas — food assistance
Regional food-bank network serving Taylor County. Find a nearby pantry or distribution and confirm its schedule before visiting.
Food Bank of West Central Texas — food assistance — details and contacts
2-1-1 Texas — local assistance
Search community assistance by location and type of need, including food, housing and family support.
Texas HHS — local family support
Search family-support programs and local services for parents and caregivers.
Schools
County & local resources
Child care & learning
Texas Child Care Connection — scholarships
Review child-care scholarship information and the application process for families who need care while working or attending education or training.
Texas Child Care Connection — scholarships — details and contacts
Taylor County — AgriLife Extension
Find county Extension contacts, local educational programs and 4-H information.
Hospitals
County & local resources
Hendrick Medical Center — Acute Care Hospitals
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Oceans Behavioral Hospital Of Abilene — Psychiatric
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Health, aging & caregiver support
Texas WIC — office locator
Find a nearby WIC office and contact it about appointments, nutrition support and eligibility.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
Find the regional center that helps older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers explore services and support.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers — details and contacts
Local mental and behavioral health authorities
Use the Texas HHS directory to find the authority serving your county and its contact information.
Local mental and behavioral health authorities — details and contacts
Public Safety
Call 911 for an immediate emergency. Use the directory entry to locate the sheriff’s office, and confirm current non-emergency contact details with the county.
County & local resources
Taylor County Sheriff — state directory entry
Sheriff’s office information, public safety resources and non-emergency contacts.
Emergency Services
For an immediate emergency, call 911. These links provide emergency planning, coordination and recovery information.
County & local resources
Texas Division of Emergency Management — Region 1 serving Taylor County
Emergency preparedness, local alerts and response information.
Prepare before an emergency
Texas Ready — emergency planning materials
Download emergency plans, supply checklists and preparedness materials in English and Spanish.
Texas Ready — emergency planning materials — details and contacts
State Parks
County & local resources
Abilene State Park
Park locations, visitor information and current access details.
Trails
Texas resources
Abilene State Park — trails map
Outdoor recreation, routes and visitor planning information.
Utilities
Water utilities listed for the county. Confirm the provider for your specific address; service territories vary within county lines.
County & local resources
Help with household costs
Help for Texans — housing and utility assistance
Find local providers for utility bills, housing, weatherization and accessibility repairs. Providers handle applications; availability and eligibility vary.
Help for Texans — housing and utility assistance — details and contacts
Libraries
County & local resources
Abilene Public Library South Branch
Library locations, collections and public services.
Accessible reading & library services
Texas Talking Book Program
Learn about accessible library services for qualifying Texans with visual, physical or reading disabilities.
Courts
Use the named county court links or search the official Texas courts directory by county and court name. Confirm the hearing or filing location directly; a regional court may serve more than one county.
County & local resources
Taylor County — County Court (County Constitutional Court)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Taylor County — 104th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Taylor County — 326th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Taylor County — 350th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Taylor County — 42nd District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Taylor County — County Court at Law (County Court at Law)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Taylor County — County Court at Law No. 2 (County Court at Law)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Taylor County — Precinct 1 Place 1 (Justice of the Peace)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Taylor County — Precinct 1 Place 2 (Justice of the Peace)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Taylor County — Precinct 2 Place 1 (Justice of the Peace)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Find legal assistance
TexasLawHelp — legal help directory
Search legal-aid organizations by counties covered and area of legal help. Each organization determines service availability and eligibility.
DMV
For local vehicle titles and registration, start with the county tax office. Texas DPS handles driver licenses.
County & local resources
Taylor County Tax Office
Tax office information, payments and available services.
Address 400 Oak Street, Ste 105, Abilene, Texas 79602, Taylor County Plaza
Phone (325) 674-1224
Texas resources
Buying or selling a vehicle
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Apply for a Texas driver license
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Driver license appointments
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Transportation
These agencies or county departments serve local transportation needs. Check routes, service boundaries, eligibility and advance booking with the provider.
County & local resources
Texas resources
Central Texas Rural Transit
Transportation services, routes and travel information.
Postal Services
Local postal facilities listed in USPS property records. Confirm retail hours, available services and temporary closures with USPS before visiting.
County & local resources
Abilene Post Office — Southern Hills Sta
Postal locations, mailing services and address information.
National resources
USPS — confirm local hours and services
Postal locations, mailing services and address information.
Veterans
County & local resources
Taylor County veterans service contact — 325-674-1328
Veterans services, benefits information and support resources.
Employment
County & local resources
Workforce Solutions West Central Texas — 500 CHESTNUT ST STE 1100
, ABILENE, 79602
Employment opportunities, job-search assistance and workforce services.
Job search & employment support
Workforce Solutions — find an office
Find nearby workforce offices for job-search, training and employer services.
Vocational rehabilitation — office lookup
Find a vocational rehabilitation office to discuss employment services for people with disabilities.
Vocational rehabilitation — office lookup — details and contacts
A little local knowledge goes a long way
Find practical information before you visit or make a move.
Helpful Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with the essentials, then follow the source links for more detail.
Abilene is the county seat of Taylor County, Texas.
The county overview lists Abilene as its largest community.
The total area is 919.3 sq mi (2,381 km 2 ), including land and water.
Use the Taylor County government website for county offices and public information.
No. A May 2026 Texas Parks and Wildlife notice extended its renovation closure. Check the park’s current alerts before planning a swim. Official information.
The official park history page explains the connection with Civilian Conservation Corps work. Official information.
Smokehouse Abilene is one option. A downtown dining option.
The Antique Station is one option. Browse antiques on North Third Street.
Bucketheads Boutique is one option. Browse women’s clothing and gifts.
Grover Nelson Park is one option. Enjoy an outdoor walk; keep pets leashed.
Storybook sculpture walk is one option. See public storybook sculptures around downtown.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make time for a local discoveryPlan your day around places and experiences in the county.
Kids’ Fun
- Abilene Zoo — Explore animal exhibits; check tickets.
- Frontier Texas! — Discover frontier history through museum exhibits.
- Adventure Cove — Enjoy seasonal water recreation; check opening dates and admission.
Restaurants
- Smokehouse Abilene — A downtown dining option.
- The Beehive Restaurant & Saloon — Plan a meal on Cedar Street.
- Bogie’s Downtown Deli — A downtown deli stop.
Shopping & Retail
- The Antique Station — Browse antiques on North Third Street.
- Abilene Yarn Co. — Explore yarn and related craft supplies.
- Candies By Vletas — Browse locally made sweets.
Clothing & Boutiques
- Bucketheads Boutique — Browse women’s clothing and gifts.
- K. Ellis Boutique — Explore a boutique on Pine Street.
- Living Chic — Browse clothing, jewelry and home decor.
Outdoor Fun
- Grover Nelson Park — Enjoy an outdoor walk; keep pets leashed.
- Cal Young Park — Plan a stroll through city green space.
- Abilene State Park — Explore trails and picnic areas; check park entry arrangements.
Free Things To Do
- Storybook sculpture walk — See public storybook sculptures around downtown.
- Center for Contemporary Arts — Explore galleries with free admission.
- NCCIL Family Fun Saturday — Check the current schedule for free family art activities.
Every place has a story.Find Your Next Favorite.