I found it interesting that the song was written about Abilene, Kansas, not Abilene, Texas.

I first heard it by George Hamilton IV, and when our jug band opened for George, he told us it was by John D. Loudermilk. I have heard since that he cowrote it with Bob Gibson and Lester Brown, but George gave John D. Loudermilk the credit.
George sang the song in possibly the worst movie I've ever seen; "Hootenanny Hoot", but he did a fine rendition. Many other folkies embarrassed themselves.

George Hamilton IV in Hootenanny Hoot The absence of microphones indicated that this is lip-synched.

Here's
Bob Dylan's review of the movie Hootenanny Hoot