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Both Abilene, Kansas and Abilene, Texas are prn. ab-uh-LEEN. Abilene, TX was named after Abilene, KS, which was the largest and I believe first "cowtown" in the 19th century, meaning it had saloons, mercantile stores and other businesses that catered specifically to cowboys herding cattle before the advent of barbed wire fencing and the construction of the transcontinental railroads were completed. Images of tumbleweed and swinging saloon doors come to mind. :)

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