As shown in the previous post, Abilene, Texas, wasn't the original "Abilene." But Abilene, Kansas copied the name too. Eric (or Nancy) Anderson tells how Abilene, Kansas got its name on the(ir) website. According to the Andersons, the name was chosen by a Kansas pioneer in 1858 using a tried and true formula for decision making. She allowed her Bible to drop open randomly and happening upon the first chapter of Luke she found a term for "city of the plains." The term is probably more accurately "Grass" but that doesn't sound quite as elegant as "city of
Actually, the Andersons mention Abilene, Texas' airport in their article but they go on to claim that the Kansas town is the "real" Abilene. So I was tickled to find that Think Baby Names (and a few other baby name sites) mentions our Texas community with no reference to the smaller Kansas freight yard.
Carrying a biblical name is certainly appropriate for our Texas community since it is home to 3 colleges with connections to religious groups. Abilene Christian University (churches of Christ), Hardin-Simmons University (Baptist) and McMurry University (Methodist) began as colleges but they've grown up to be universities. The confluence of these three gives some weight to the claim that "Abilene is the buckle of the Bible Belt."
Actually, the Andersons mention Abilene, Texas' airport in their article but they go on to claim that the Kansas town is the "real" Abilene. So I was tickled to find that Think Baby Names (and a few other baby name sites) mentions our Texas community with no reference to the smaller Kansas freight yard.
Carrying a biblical name is certainly appropriate for our Texas community since it is home to 3 colleges with connections to religious groups. Abilene Christian University (churches of Christ), Hardin-Simmons University (Baptist) and McMurry University (Methodist) began as colleges but they've grown up to be universities. The confluence of these three gives some weight to the claim that "Abilene is the buckle of the Bible Belt."
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