The city of Abilene was started in 1881. Clabe Merchant named it after a city in Kansas. A lot of people came to live in the city. It soon became very important. Some people called it the 'Future Great City of West Texas.' A US Army base was built there in 1940. The base closed in 1945. After the base closed, it got changed to the Dyess Air Force Base. A lot of people work in the Air Force base today.