Abilene, city in central Texas and seat of Taylor County. The city is also located in Jones County. Abilene is the commercial, financial, and industrial heart of a vast region of agriculture, oil and gas production, and manufacturing. Major industries include petroleum refining, metal and fiberglass fabrication, and beverage production. Dyess Air Force Base plays an important role in the city's economy. The city is served by Abilene Regional Airport. Hardin-Simmons University (1891), Abilene Christian University (1906), McMurry University (1923), and a junior college are located in Abilene. The Museums of Abilene has children's, fine arts, and historical exhibits. Linear Air Park at Dyess Air Force Base displays military aircraft from the 1940s to the present. The Abilene Zoo counts among its displays a comparison of plants and animals of the American Southwest and similar regions of Africa. The Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra performs at the Abilene Civic Center.