From Jim Ned to Lawn: A small town’s forgotten beginnings

LAWN, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Just about 24 miles south of Abilene sits the town of Lawn. While it may not be widely known, its first location, known as “Old Lawn,” has left no historic footprint.

No historic footprint for the original town

According to the Taylor County Historical Commission, the area was first settled in the 1890s as Jim Ned. The name later changed to Lawn with the establishment of a post office. When the railroad arrived in 1909, the original community became “Old Lawn,” while the new Lawn was incorporated in 1925 alongside the railroad. Today, the site of Old Lawn, near County Road 162, shows no visible trace of the former settlement.

Namesake

The town’s original name honored Delaware Indian Chief and Texas Scout Jim Ned, who took part in an 1847 battle on the upper Brazos against the Wichita Indians, according to the City of Lawn’s website. That namesake lives on through Jim Ned CISD and Jim Ned Creek.

Population

• 650 in 1929
• 445 in 1988
• 358 in 1990
• 353 in 2000
• 311 in 2024

The impact of the Dyess Atlas ICBM Site 6

Located just 2.4 miles east of Lawn, Dyess Atlas ICBM Site 6 brought hundreds of contractors to the area in 1961. According to the Taylor County Historical Commission, many relied on the small town for food and services during construction and operations.

Lawn today

Lawn is now home to a variety of businesses, a small art gallery, the Mayfield Memorial Library, a volunteer fire department, and three churches. In 2017, Lawn Elementary School was rebuilt to better accommodate the town’s growing student population.