Despite delays, lawsuits and a pandemic, the 2020 Census was completed, and we now have the results. As I’m sure many of you have seen by now, both Abilene and Taylor County added population over the last decade. I’ll go into some detail about those results below, but also wanted to remind everyone of the work conducted by your chamber to assist in this important effort.
In 2019, the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Development Corporation of Abilene, the city of Abilene and the U.S. Census Bureau, launched a campaign to promote participation in the 2020 Census in Abilene, Taylor County and the border Big Country region. This included the creation of a Complete Count Committee, made up of local leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors, as well as advertising campaigns using local talent and local media to spread the word. Your chamber was regularly cited at the regional, state, and national level as a model example of a community partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau, one that other cities large and small should emulate. Numerous coalitions and groups from across our community came together for a common purpose, and those efforts contributed to an accurate portrait of our growing city and county.
Per the new Census data, the population of Abilene is 125,182, up from a 2010 population of 117,063, for an increase of just under 7%. Taylor County grew at a rate of almost 9%, from a 2010 population of 131,506 to a current population of 143,208, making it the 33rd most populous county in Texas. Those wishing to know more should visit www.census.gov for more data.
So what does this mean for Abilene? It’s obvious that you would rather have your city growing versus shrinking, but beyond that, it shows that this is community that an increasing number of folks want to call home, whether they choose to live within the city limits or not. Similarly, the results highlighted our importance as a regional hub. While many of our neighboring counties saw decreases in population, those residents are still tied to Abilene for jobs, consumer goods, and countless other things.
A growing population is a huge win for Abilene, for Taylor County, for business and for the Abilene Chamber of Commerce and our members. Thank you to all who contributed to this effort!