Abilene, Tx: Worst city in Texas hands down!! (Houston, Tyler: violent crime, homes) - (TX) - City-Data Forum

JoeTomo · 03-05-2019, 03:53 PM

I moved to Abilene 6 months ago for work. I was told that Abilene was a small city that was growing and had a lot going for it. I get to town and I get the biggest rude awakening I could have ever dreamed of. After living in Tyler for 6 years I had grown accustomed to a well kept city with friendly people. Tyler had restaurants, night life, booming economy and nice scenery to look at. Within 5 minutes of arriving in Abilene I knew I had made a mistake.

Abilene is a filthy town with a lot of nothing surrounding it for miles. Trees? None. Booming economy? What economy? Night life? Ha! Everything closes at midnight. Entire neighborhoods lay mostly abandoned and most of the remaining homes should be demolished. The restaurants that Abilene has are just chain restaurants and many are closed down. Entire blocks are empty and filled with trash, abandoned cars and tall grass. Need to catch a flight? Good luck. Abilene has one air carrier and getting a flight will cost you $500 easily. Most of the streets are in terrible shape. Within 2 weeks I had already replaced a front wheel because of a pot hole the size of a moon crater!! Is Abilene a safe city? Nope! The entire city is overrun by violent crime which occupies the entire 10pm newscast. One good thing is that housing is pretty cheap but I can definitely see why. There’s no shopping and healthcare options seem a bit limited as well.

Needless to say I’ve requested my old position back in Tyler and will be leaving in 3 weeks. If anyone reading this is considering a move to Abilene, please think about it. Abilene isn’t a growing city for opportunity as they would like you to think. It’s a dying city that needs help.

RJ312 · 03-05-2019, 06:08 PM

Abilene never impressed me.

supfromthesite · 03-05-2019, 06:52 PM

Can't say I've spent much time in either towns but I figured they were about equal. I'm pretty shocked. Like you said, Tyler has a much prettier scene, which is why I have thought of moving there over Abilene. I wonder if this could have anything to do with the difference between the towns? Doubtful. Maybe it's the proximity to Arkansas, Louisiana, and perhaps especially Houston.

Mark Senior · 03-05-2019, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supfromthesite

Can't say I've spent much time in either towns but I figured they were about equal. I'm pretty shocked. Like you said, Tyler has a much prettier scene, which is why I have thought of moving there over Abilene. I wonder if this could have anything to do with the difference between the towns? Doubtful. Maybe it's the proximity to Arkansas, Louisiana, and perhaps especially Houston.

You've spent SOME time in Abilene and Tyler? They seemed equal then? City taxes MUCH lower in Tyler. Not even a comparison. Anyway ...

Tyler has always prided itself in trying to look clean and appearing to be a desirable place to live. Promoting the Rose's, and calling itself the Rose Capital, when Tyler once grew more than 50% of the commercially grown roses in the country. Years ago, many residents grew roses around their homes and yards. Later, these were replaced by azaleas, easier to grow. For 30 years are more the Azalea Trails have occured in late March and early April. Side note: if the late freeze did not harm them, and they still bloom, they will bloom much later this year. Early April to mid or late April. Official trail dates posted, will be way, too early for blooms. Weather looks for cool temps thru at least March 19, as for as a "guess" is made at this time.

No, many Tyler new residents came here because, for the most part it is clean, and fairly scenic for any good sized town in Texas assuming all things otherwise equal, jobs or they are retired. Not as clean as it was when it was smaller, some newer people have brought their BAD habits here in recent years. More trash, but compared to most other cities Tyler's size...

Proximity to Houston, what affect would that have on Tyler? Thanks.

RomulusXXV · 03-07-2019, 10:53 AM

What? The OP simply cannot be talking about Abilene. See below:

Abilene, Abilene,
Prettiest town I've ever seen
Women there don't treat you mean
In Abilene, my Abilene

I sit alone most every night
Watch those trains pull out of sight
Don't I wish they were carrying me
Back to Abilene, my Abilene

Crowded city, ain't nothing free
Nothing in this old town for me
Wish to the Lord that I could be
In Abilene, sweet Abilene