Abilene Does It, Again!
For the fifth year in a row, Abilene is a finalist in USA Today's 2023 Readers' Choice Best Historic Small Town contest.
"This is so exciting," said Julie Roller Weeks, Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau director. "Receiving this recognition once is a big deal, let alone five years in a row. It's unimaginable!"
In 2022, Abilene ranked #2 in the nationwide top 10 contest.
"Thank you to the tourism attractions, businesses, residents, employees, volunteers, and leaders who help make Abilene the best historic small town," Roller Weeks said. "Thank you to the voters who continue to vote for our five-star community."
A panel of relevant experts chooses nominees for all categories and includes:
- A combination of editors from USA TODAY.
- Editors from 10Best.com.
- Relevant expert contributors.
- Sources for both these media and other Gannett properties.
All voting is digital, and the 10Best Readers' Choice Award contest is accessible on the 10Best.com website.
According to 10Best Readers' Choice, the finalists have big histories and small populations – fewer than 35,000 people – making them fun and affordable ways to drive into our nation's past.
Online voting begins Monday, January 23, at 11:00 a.m. CST and ends Monday, February 20, at 10:59 a.m. CST.
"Please encourage your friends, family, employees, customers, visitors and fellow Kansans to vote daily," Roller Weeks said. "We need your help to win."
Recent Awards:
- Top 10 True Western Town of the Year by True West Magazine (2023)
- Best Historic Small Town finalist by USA TODAY (2023)
- Best Promotion of a Historic Place by True West Magazine (2023)
- Destination of the Year by Midwest Travel Network (2022)
- #2 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2022)
- #1 Favorite U.S. Small Town by TravelAwaits (2022)
- #1 Friendliest U.S. Small Town by TravelAwaits (2022)
- Best Promotion of a Historic Place by TrueWest magazine (2022)
- #4 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2021)
- Best U.S. Small Town by TravelAwaits (2021)
- #2 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2020)
- Coolest Small Town in Kansas by Far and Wide (2020)
- Most Beautiful Small Town in Kansas by House Beautiful magazine (2020)
- #8 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2019)
- #1 True Western Town of the Year by TrueWest magazine (2018)
- Best Weekend Getaway by KANSAS! magazine (2018)
- Best Small Towns to Visit by Smithsonian magazine (2017)