Tyler, Texas


Tyler is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the largest city and county seat of Smith County. It is also the largest city in Northeast Texas. With a 2019 census-estimated population of 106,985, Tyler was the thirty-eighth most populous city in Texas and 292nd in the United States. It is the principal city of the Tyler metropolitan statistical area, which is the 199th most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. and 16th in Texas after Waco and the College Station–Bryan areas, with a population of 230,221 in 2018.
The city is named for John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States. In 1985, the international Adopt-a-Highway movement originated in Tyler. After appeals by local Texas Department of Transportation officials, the local Civitan International chapter adopted a two-mile stretch of U.S. Route 69 to maintain. Drivers and other motorists traveling on this segment of U.S. 69 will notice brown road signs that read, "First Adopt-A-Highway in the World".
Tyler is known as the "Rose Capital of America", a nickname it earned from a long history of rose production, cultivation, and processing. It is home to the largest rose garden in the United States, a 14-acre public garden complex that has over 38,000 rose bushes of at least 500 different varieties. The Tyler Rose Garden is also home to the annual Texas Rose Festival, attracting tourists by the thousands each year in mid-October.
As Northeast Texas and Smith County's major economic, educational, financial, medical and cultural hub, Tyler is host to more than 20,000 higher-education students, the University of Texas at Tyler, a university health science center, and regional hospital systems. It is also the headquarters for Brookshire Grocery Company, Cavender's, Southside Bank, and Synthesizers.com. Other corporations with major presence within the city limits and surrounding area include AT&T, T-Mobile US, Cricket Wireless and Metro by T-Mobile, Chase Bank, BBVA, Best Buy, and Walmart. Tyler is also home to the Caldwell Zoo and Broadway Square Mall.

History

Legal recognition of Tyler was initiated by an act of the state legislature on April 11, 1846. The Texas government created Smith County and authorized a county seat. The first plat designated a 28-block town site centered by a main square, located within a 100-acre tract acquired by Smith County on February 6, 1847. The new town was named for President John Tyler, who advocated for the annexation of Texas by the United States. A log building on the north side of the square functioned as courthouse and public meeting hall until it was displaced by a brick courthouse in 1852. On January 29, 1850, Tyler was incorporated. Early religious and social institutions included the First Baptist church and a Methodist church, a Masonic lodge and an Odd Fellows lodge, and Tyler's first newspaper.
Though Tyler's early economy from 1847–1873 was based on agriculture, it was also well-diversified during this period. Logging was a second major industry, while complementary manufacturing included metal working, milling wood, and leather tanning. As the seat of Smith County, the town also benefited from government activity. The local agricultural economy relied on slave labor before the Civil War.
By 1860, Tyler held over 1,000 enslaved persons, which represented 35 percent of the town's population. There was strong support for secession and the Confederacy within Tyler, as a high percentage of its residents voted for secession and many of its men joined the Confederate Army. The town was secure enough for the Confederate States of America to establish the largest ordinance plant in Texas. In 1870, the first bank in Tyler was established by Bonner and Williams. Though both the Texas and Pacific Railroad and the International Railroad eschewed routes through Tyler, the town gained an important rail connection when the Houston and Great Northern built a branch line in 1874.
Toward the end of the nineteenth century, fruit orchards emerged as an important new business in the regional economy. Eighty percent of the county's agricultural revenue derived from cotton as it persisted as the dominant crop in the first decades of the twentieth century. Peaches were the principal fruit crop as the county fruit tree inventory surpassed one million by 1900. Disease struck the peach trees, though, and local farmers moved toward growing roses by the 1920s. Twenty years later, most of the U.S. rose supply originated in the Tyler area.
On October 29, 1895, an African American suspect named Robert Henry Hillard was burned at the stake in the Smith County Courthouse Square for the alleged murder of a nineteen-year-old white woman. Denied a trial and due process, Hillard was taken from law enforcement personnel by a white mob. Hillard's executioners were never punished. Later, two entrepreneurs combined photographs from the actual lynching with others staged with actors and sold the 16-image production as a stereographic set. One of the original sets sits in the United States Library of Congress.
On May 25, 1912, Dan Davis, an African American man suspected of attacking a sixteen-year-old white girl named Carrie Johnson, was burned at the stake in the Smith County Courthouse Square.
In 1971, the University of Texas system established the University of Texas at Tyler and Broadway Square Mall opened in 1975.
By 1980, the population grew to 70,508 and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler and East Texas Islamic Society were established in the following years.
Two Tyler churches were destroyed during the 2010 East Texas church burnings. Historic preservation city planning began in 2016.

Geography

Tyler is located at and is above sea level. The city of Tyler is situated in the Southern United States, in Northeast Texas. It is sometimes considered part of the wider Ark-La-Tex region where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet. The city is approximately 38 miles from Longview; 61 miles from Marshall; 100 miles from Dallas; 132 miles from Texarkana; 230 miles from the state capital of Austin; and 98 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana.
Tyler is the county seat of Smith County, and is surrounded by many suburban communities, including Whitehouse, Lindale, New Chapel Hill, Bullard, Edom, Brownsboro, Kilgore, Flint, and Chandler. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 54.4 square miles, of which 54.2 mi2 is land and 0.1 mi2 is covered by water. Tyler is the principal city of the Greater Tyler metro area, and a principal city in the Tyler–Longview area, a conurbation of the Tyler and Longview metropolitan and combined statistical areas.

Cityscape

Tyler has a relatively modest skyline and downtown area. Its downtown has a unique rustic architecture mainly in Art Deco and neoclassical styles. Many architectural structures in central Tyler date from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Modernist and postmodernist era structures are also present throughout the cityscape.
Central Tyler is anchored by Brick Streets Historic District and Charnwood Residential Historic District, areas characterized by dense retail, restaurants, nightlife, and historic landmarks. Brick Streets Historic District is the largest geographic area of Tyler. It encompasses 29 blocks and primarily consists of buildings constructed in the 1900s. The district area is predominantly residential though it sometimes serves as a mix-use district. Brick Streets Historic District has brick-paved streets and stone-line drainage channels. Nearby, Charnwood is Tyler's first historic district. It comprises 12 blocks of late 19th and early 20th century architecture.

Climate

Tyler experiences weather typical of East Texas, which is unpredictable, especially in the spring. All of East Texas has the humid subtropical climate typical of the American South. Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, hail, damaging winds and tornadoes occur in the area during the spring and summer months. Summer months are hot and humid, with maximum temperatures exceeding 90 °F an average of 91 days per year, with high to very high relative average humidity.
The record high for Tyler is, which occurred in 2011. The record low for Tyler is, which occurred on January 18, 1930.

Demographics

Tyler is the most populous city in Northeast Texas, and 38th in Texas. Its metropolitan area is the largest in the region, followed by the Longview metropolitan area. The Tyler metropolitan area had 230,221 residents in 2018, and the greater Tyler–Longview area had an estimated population of 371,015.
Per the American Community Survey's 2018 estimates, Tyler had a population of 105,727, an increase of 8,827 people since the 2010 census. In 2019, it increased to 106,985. There were 41,820 housing units and 35,597 households in 2018. There were 23,224 families within the city limits. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.60. 44.9% of households were headed by married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were classified as non-family households. In 2018 the owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing rate were equally 50%. The median age was 31.5 years and there were 90 males per 100 females. At the 2010 census, 96,900 people resided in the city of Tyler. The population density was 1,782.0 people per square mile. The median income for the city was $42,752 and the poverty rate was 19.5%.
In 2018, the median household income for Tyler was $53,962 and the mean income was $78,886. The median value of an owner-occupied housing unit was $155,200 and the monthly payment without a mortgage was $1,317. With a mortgage, monthly owner-occupied housing costs were $515. The median gross rent from 2014-2018 was $887. 16.7% of Tyler's population was below the poverty line in 2018.

Race and ethnicity

Tyler's population has been historically predominantly non-Hispanic white as much of Texas. Its population diversified due to immigration and white flight over the 20th century.
The racial makeup of the city in 2010 was 60.5% White, 24.8% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 10.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. About 21.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2018, 49.4% of Tyler was non-Hispanic white, 21.8% Black or African American, 3.4% Asian, 0.6% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 2.0% from two or more races. An estimated 22.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race in 2018. The largest Hispanic or Latino group were Mexican Americans at 21,118, followed by Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Hispanics or Latinos. A little over 10% of Tylerites were foreign-born. The most common immigrants to the city are Mexicans, Indians, and Salvadorans.

Religion

determined 73.2% of Tylerites and the surrounding area identify as religious as of 2020. As part of the Bible Belt, Protestant Christianity is the largest religious group, followed by the Roman Catholic Christianity. 31.1% of Tylerite Christians are Baptist, primarily affiliated with the Texas Baptists, Southern Baptist Convention, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc, National Baptist Convention of America, and Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. The Catholic community of Tyler and its metropolitan area are primarily served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler. Following, 6.6% of the population were Methodists, mainly affiliated with the United Methodist Church and African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Pentecostals form the fourth-largest Christian group in Tyler and the largest Pentecostal bodies within the area are Assemblies of God USA and the United Pentecostal Church. 1.2% are Latter-day Saints. 0.9% identified as Anglicans or Episcopalians, 0.7% Presbyterian, and 0.6% Lutheran. 13.6% of Tylerites are of another Christian faith including the Eastern Orthodox Church and Jehovah's Witnesses.
The Anglican or Episcopalian community are divided between the Episcopal Church in the United States and Anglican Church in North America. The Episcopal Church USA-affiliated Episcopal Diocese of Dallas has congregations in Tyler. The Anglican Church in North America also has congregations in Tyler and its metropolitan area. The Diocese of Mid-America is the ACNA's diocese in Tyler, consisting of one church. This diocese is also a member of the Reformed Episcopal Church.
Presbyterian and Lutheran bodies operating in the area include the Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Church in America, and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and North American Lutheran Church. The Eastern Orthodox community is served by the Orthodox Church in America's Diocese of the South.
The oldest continuously active church in Greater Tyler is the historic over 152 year old New Harmony Baptist Church, located about 10 miles outside of the city of Tyler.
St. Joseph the Worker Parish, one of the few churches in the United States dedicated to the exclusive use of the Traditional Latin Mass, is another continuously active church. It is staffed by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. The city also is the home of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a century-old church recently renovated and declared a historic and heritage site by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler. The Saint Peter Claver Parish, located in central Tyler, is the second largest Catholic church in Tyler and was dedicated to St. Peter Claver, a Franciscan priest that assisted the black slaves in Brazil during the slave trade to South America.
Per Sperling's BestPlaces, approximately 0.1% affiliate with Judaism compared to the state average of 0.2%. 0.4% of the area identify as Muslims. The area's Islamic community is affiliated with the East Texas Islamic Society.

Economy

In addition to its role in the rose-growing industry, Tyler is the headquarters for Brookshire Grocery Company, which operates Brookshire's, Fresh, Super 1 Foods, and Spring Market supermarkets in the Ark-La-Tex and parts of Dallas-Fort Worth. The company's main distribution center is located in south Tyler, while SouthWest Foods, a subsidiary that processes dairy products, is located just northeast of the city.
The manufacturing sector includes:
According to the City's 2012-2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top ten employers in the city are:
#Employer# of Employees
1Trinity Mother Frances Health System3,775
2UT Health - Tyler3,153
3Brookshire Grocery Company2,599
4Tyler Independent School District2,468
5Trane1,500
6SuddenLink1,500
7Walmart1,311
8The University of Texas at Tyler1,121
9UT Health - Tyler 925
10Tyler Junior College862

Education

Colleges and universities

Tyler's higher education institutions include the University of Texas at Tyler and the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, both part of the University of Texas System, as well as Texas College, the city's only HBCU, and Tyler Junior College.

Primary and secondary schools

Public primary and secondary education for much of the city is provided by the Tyler Independent School District, which includes high schools John Tyler and Robert E. Lee, as well as Tyler ISD Early College High School, Premier High School of Tyler, a public charter school. Several Tyler schools offer international baccalaureate and advanced placement programs.
Portions of incorporated Tyler are served by surrounding school districts. These include sections of southeast Tyler, served by the Whitehouse Independent School District, and some sections in the east which are served by the Chapel Hill Independent School District.

Private schools

Local government

According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $87.7 million in revenues, $101.7 million in expenditures, $49.2 million in total assets, $12.3 million in total liabilities, and $17.6 million in cash in investments.
The Northeast Texas Public Health District is a political subdivision under the State of Texas established by the City of Tyler and Smith County. In place for nearly 70 years, the Health District became a separate entity in 1994, with an administrative Public Health Board. With a stated vision "To be the Healthiest Community in Texas", the district has a full-time staff of over 130 employees. The Health District has a broad range of services and responsibilities dedicated to their mission: "To Protect, Promote, and Provide for the Health of Our Community."

State government

Tyler is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Bryan Hughes, District 1, and in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Matt Schaefer, District 6.
The Texas Twelfth Court of Appeals is located in Tyler.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Region I Parole Division Office and the Tyler District Parole Office in Tyler.

Federal government

The two U.S. Senators from Texas are Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. Tyler is part of Texas' 1st congressional district, which is currently represented by Republican Louie Gohmert.
The United States Postal Service operates several post offices in Tyler, including Tyler, Azalea, Southeast Crossing, and the South Tyler Annex.

Recreation and tourism

Annually, the Texas Rose Festival draws thousands of tourists to Tyler. The festival, which celebrates the role of the rose-growing industry in the local economy, is held in October and features a parade, the coronation of the Rose Queen, and other civic events. The Rose Museum features the history of the Festival. Tyler is also home to Caldwell Zoo, several local museums, Lake Palestine, Lake Tyler, and numerous golf courses and country clubs. A few miles away in Flint, TX is The WaterPark @ The Villages, a year-round, indoor water park. There is also an "Azalea Trail" in Tyler, which consists of two officially designated routes within the city that showcase homes or other landscaped venues adorned with azalea shrubs. The Azalea Trail also is home to the long-standing tradition of the . The official greeters of the Azalea Trail are known as the Azalea Belles, young women from the Tyler area who dress in antebellum gowns. The belles are chosen each year from area high schools or home school families, and it is an honor to be chosen.
Tyler State Park, located a few miles North of the city limits, attracts visitors with opportunities to camp, canoe, and paddle boat on the lake. Other available pastimes include picnicking, boating, boat rentals, fishing, birding, hiking, mountain biking, hiking trails, lake swimming, and nature study.
The Smith County Historical Society operates a museum and archives in the old Carnegie Library.
The East Texas State Fair is held annually in Tyler.
Lake Tyler was the location of the HGTV Dream Home contest in 2005. The 6,500 square feet house helped to boost tourism and interest in the community and surrounding areas. It was subsequently sold at public auction in January 2008, for $1.325 million.

Historical

Tyler has a Cotton Belt Railroad Depot Museum located near the Chamber of Commerce office.
The Smith County Historical Society, a 501 non-profit organization, was founded in 1959 by individuals and business firms dedicated to discovering, collecting, and preserving data, records, and other items relating to the history of Smith County, Texas. The Society operates a museum and archives, which is located in the former Carnegie Public Library building in downtown Tyler. Permanent museum exhibits include life-size dioramas of Smith County history, with topics ranging from the Caddo Indians to the 20th century. Other items from the Society's collections are showcased in revolving, temporary exhibits. The Society's archival library contains historical artifacts of Smith County, including newspapers, city directories, school records, photographs, maps, historical papers and rare books. The archives are open to the public for research on a limited schedule with volunteer staff on duty. The society is also the official caretaker of Camp Ford Historic Park.
Camp Ford was the largest Confederate Prisoner of War camp west of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. The original site of the camp stockade is a public historic park managed by the . The park contains a kiosk, paved trail, interpretive signage, a cabin reconstruction, and a picnic area. It is located on Highway 271, north of Loop 323.

Arts and Culture

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Tyler's Civic Chorale.

Transportation

The most common form of transportation is the motor vehicle. Tyler is a nexus of several major highways. Interstate 20 runs along the north edge of the city going east and west, U.S. Highway 69 runs north–south through the center of town and State Highway 64 runs east–west through the city. Tyler also has access to U.S. Highway 271, State Highway 31, State Highway 155, and State Highway 110. Loop 323 was established in 1957 and encircles the city, which has continued to grow outside of this loop. Loop 49 is a limited access "outer loop" around the city and currently runs from State Highway 110 south of Tyler to Interstate 20 northwest of Tyler. Loop 124 is 1.5 miles long.

Public transportation

Tyler Transit provides customers with public transportation service within the City of Tyler. The buses run daily, excluding Sundays and holidays. Tyler Transit offers customers the option to purchase tickets, tokens, or passes at the Tyler Transit office, located at 210 E. Oakwood Street inside the Cotton Belt Railroad Depot at the main transfer point. The City of Tyler paratransit service is a shared-ride, public transportation service. Requests for service must be made the day before the service is needed. Trips can be scheduled up to 14 days in advance. ADA compliant paratransit service is provided to all origins and destinations within the service area defined as the city limits of Tyler. Greyhound Lines bus service is available through a downtown terminal.

Via air

offers service to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Denver International Airport via American Eagle and Frontier, respectively. While American Eagle provides service with Embraer ERJ-135 and ERJ-145 regional jets, Frontier operates with Airbus A320 mainline jet aircraft, Europe's own equivalent to the Boeing 737. General Aviation services are provided by two fixed-base operators, and the Jet Center of Tyler.

Via train

Tyler was the hub for a series of short-line railroads which later evolved into the St. Louis Southwestern Railway, better known as "The Cotton Belt Route". This line later became part of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which itself merged with the Union Pacific Railroad, which continues to serve the city today. No passenger train service to Tyler has occurred since April 1956, but Amtrak runs through the city of Mineola, a short distance north of Tyler.

Walkability

A 2014 study by Walk Score ranked Tyler with a walkability score of 32 with some amenities within walking distance.

Healthcare

s located in Tyler include UT Health Tyler, Trinity Mother Frances Health System, UT Health North Campus Tyler, and Texas Spine & Joint Hospital. There are also many clinics including the Direct Care Clinic.

Media

Currently, 24 media outlets and one newspaper are located in Tyler, as well as many more in the surrounding areas.

Newspaper

Radio

AM stations

Frequency
Call Letters
Format
Name
600KTBBNews/Talk-
1330KGLDGospelThe Light
1490KYZSSportsESPN Deportes

FM stations

Sports

College and university teams

Nearby:

Entertainment