 merkel is a town in taylor county, texas, united states. the population was 2,637 at the 2000 census. it is part of the abilene, texas metropolitan statistical area. ==geography== merkel is located 17 miles west of abilene near the interstate highway 20. the town has a total area of 2.0&nbsp;square miles (5.1&nbsp;kmÂ²), all of it land. == history == around 1880, when the texas and pacific railway was built, the town was founded as windmill town. in 1881 it was renamed to merkel in honor of the first settler in this area, s. m. merkel from germany. in 1882 the first mercantile store and in 1883 the first post office opened. ==demographic
Abilene_metropolitan_area Towns_in_Taylor_County,_Texas Towns_in_Texas