Cisco is located in Eastland County, just east of Abilene on I-20 near the lake named for it on South Creek River.
In the years following World War II, Cisco became increasingly dependent on oil and gas production, agriculture (primarily peanut culture), and manufacturing. Cisco Junior College grew and was enrolling around 1,000 students in the early 1980s. In 1980 Cisco had a population of 4,517 and 154 businesses.
That year residents applied to have the whole town named a historical district. They were inspired to seek recognition by a University of Houston professor who had come to Cisco to supervise the restoration of the Mobley Hotel, the first hotel owned by hotel magnate Conrad Hilton.
In 1990 the population of Cisco was 3,813.