Tyler, Texas

City of Tyler
—  City  —
Tyler skyline, with Plaza Tower at right and Venue Properties office building in center
Seal
Nickname(s): Rose City
Motto: A Natural Beauty
Location of Tyler, Texas
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Smith
Government
- Type	Council-Manager
- City Council	Mayor Barbara Bass Charles Alworth Donald Sanders Ralph Caraway Nathaniel Moran Steve Smith Chris Simons
- City Manager	Mark McDaniel
Area
- Total	49.4 sq mi (128.0 km2)
- Land	49.3 sq mi (127.7 km2)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation	544 ft (165 m)
Population (2008)
- Total	98,000
- Density	1,696/sq mi (655.1/km2)
Time zone	Central (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	Central (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	75700-75799
Area code(s)	430, 903
FIPS code	48-74144[1]
GNIS feature ID	1348998[2]
Website	http://www.cityoftyler.org

New Tyler welcome sign

Goodman House and Museum is one of the antebellum homes in Tyler at 624 N. Broadway

A glimpse of downtown Tyler from the front of the Smith County Courthouse

Liberty Theater in Tyler

Entrance to Tyler Public Library

Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States.^[3] The city is named for President John Tyler in recognition of his support for Texas's admission to the United States. The 2000 census recorded the city's population to be 83,650, while in 2008 it was estimated to have reached 108,772.^[4] Tyler is the principal city of the Tyler Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville combined statistical area and includes surrounding communities such as the Town of Flint, the Town of Gresham, and the City of Noonday.

Tyler has been nicknamed the "Rose Capital of the world" because of its large role in the rose-growing industry; about 20% of commercial rose bushes produced in the U.S. are grown in Tyler and Smith County and more than half of the rose bushes are packaged and shipped from the area. It has the nation's largest municipal rose garden and hosts the Texas Rose Festival each October, which draws more than 100,000 spectators.^[5]

In 1985, the international Adopt-a-Highway movement originated in Tyler when, after appeals by local Texas Department of Transportation officials, the local Civitan chapter adopted a 2-mile (3-km) stretch of U.S. Highway 69. Tyler is also home to the Caldwell Zoo.

Increasingly, Tyler is becoming recognized as an ideal city for retirees. A GreatPlacesToRetire.com^[6] survey of retirement cities lists Tyler as one of America's top retirement cities.^[7]

Geography

Tyler is located at ^[8] Elevation: 544 feet. Tyler is surrounded by many smaller cities including Whitehouse, Lindale, New Chapel Hill, Bullard, Edom, Brownsboro, and Chandler.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.4 square miles (128.0 Square kilometres), of which, 49.3 square miles (127.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.22%) is water.

Climate

Tyler enjoys weather typical of East Texas, which is unpredictable, especially in the spring time. All of East Texas has the humid subtropical climate typical of the Southeast in North America.

The record high for Tyler is 111°F (44°C), which occurred on July 31, 1921. The record low for Tyler is -3°F (-19°C), which occurred on January 18, 1930.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 83,650 people, 32,525 households, and 21,076 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,696.7 people per square mile (655.1/km²). There were 35,337 housing units at an average density of 716.7/sq mi (276.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.72% White, 26.83% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 8.46% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. 15.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 32,525 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.12.

The city's population was spread out by age, with 26% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 20% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,163, and the median income for a family was $43,618. Males had a median income of $31,728 versus $22,397 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,184. 16.8% of the population and 13.0% of families were below the poverty threshold. 23.3% of those under the age of 18 and 12.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government

Local government

Tyler City Hall

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.^[9]

The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:^[10]

The Northeast Texas Public Health District^[11] 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

The Texas Twelfth Court of Appeals is located in Tyler.^[12]

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Region I Parole Division Office and the Tyler District Parole Office in Tyler.^[13]

Federal government

U.S. Post Office in downtown Tyler

The United States Postal Service operates several post offices in Tyler, including Tyler,^[14] Downtown Tyler,^[15] Azalea,^[16] Southeast Crossing,^[17], and the South Tyler Annex.^[18]

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, Tyler Junior College, and Texas College.

Primary and secondary schools

John Tyler High School

Public primary and secondary education for much of the city is provided by the Tyler Independent School District, which includes two high schools, John Tyler and Robert E. Lee; Premier High School of Tyler a public charter school; several Tyler schools offer International Baccalaureate and Advance Placement programmes.

Portions of incorporated Tyler are served by surrounding school districts. These include sections of southeast Tyler by the Whitehouse Independent School District, and some sections in the east which are served by the Chapel Hill Independent School District.

Private schools

The Tyler Catholic School System of the Catholic Diocese of Tyler consists of St. Gregory Elementary and Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Middle/High School. There are several other private schools, including Grace Community School, All Saints Episcopal School, Seventh-day Adventist Church School, King's Academy Christian School, Christian Heritage School, East Texas Christian Academy, and Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal School.

Economy

Venue Properties office building in downtown Tyler

Chamber of Commerce office in downtown Tyler

In addition to its role in the rose-growing industry, Tyler is the headquarters for Brookshire Grocery Company, which operates Brookshire's and Super 1 Foods, and Ole! supermarkets in four states. The company's main distribution center is located in south Tyler, while SouthWest Foods, a subsidiary that produces dairy products, is located just north-east of the city. Adams Engineering has also made its headquarters in Tyler.

According to the City's 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,^[19] the top ten employers in the city are:

The manufacturing sector includes:

• Tyler Pipe, a subsidiary of McWane Inc. that produces soil and utility pipe products
• Trane, a business of Ingersoll-Rand, formerly a unit of American Standard Companies, which manufactures air conditioners and heat pumps (this plant was originally built in 1955 by General Electric)
• Carrier, which manufactures air conditioners
• Delek Refining, an Israeli owned oil refinery formerly dba La Gloria Oil and Gas Co (a Crown Central Petroleum subsidiary).
• Ferguson Beauregard, an operating company of Dover Corporation that specializes in equipment for the measurement and production of natural gas using the plunger lift method.
• Vesuvius USA, a division of Cookson Group that manufactures refractory ceramics used in the steel industry.
• Cavender's Boot City, a large regional western wear retailer and manufacture.

Also produced in Tyler are John Soules Foods' fajita and other meat products, Greenberg's Smoked Turkeys, Distant Lands Coffee Roasters coffee, Tyler Candle Co. jar candles, Tyler Products, and a variety of small high-tech businesses including Synthesizers.com, F3 Technology Solutions, Group M7, CBI , Power-Up, and Arrick Robotics.

Tyler is also a major medical center which serves the city as well as the surrounding East Texas area.

Recreation and tourism

Chamblee Rose Garden in Tyler

Entrance to Caldwell Zoo in Tyler

Annually, the Texas Rose Festival draws thousands of tourists to Tyler.^[20] 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. There is also a Rose Museum featuring the history of the Festival. Tyler is home to Caldwell Zoo, several local museums, Lake Palestine, Lake Tyler, and numerous golf courses and country clubs.^[21] There is also an "Azalea Trail," which are 2 officially designated routes within the city that showcase homes or other landscaped venues adorned with azalea shrubs.^[22] Tyler State Park is a few miles away where visitors can camp, canoe, and paddle boat on the lake. Activities include picnicking; camping; boating (motors allowed - 5 mph speed limit); boat rentals; fishing; birding; hiking; mountain biking and hiking trails; lake swimming (in unsupervised swimming area); and nature study. The Smith County Historical Society operates a museum and archives in the old Carnegie Library.^[23] The East Texas State Fair is held annually in Tyler.^[24] Lake Tyler was the location of the HGTV Dream Home contest in 2005. The 6,500 square feet (600 m²) house briefly boosted tourism and interest in the community. It subsequently was sold at public auction in January, 2008, for 1.325 million dollars.^[25]

Historical

Cotton Belt Railroad Depot Museum in Tyler

The Smith County Historical Society building is located across the street from the Tyler Public Library.

Tyler has a Cotton Belt Railroad Depot Museum located near the Chamber of Commerce office.

The Smith County Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) 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 with Smith County history topics ranging from Caddo Indians to the Twentieth 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, rare books and much more. 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 Smith County Historical Society. The park contains a kiosk, paved trail, interpretive signage, a cabin reconstruction, and a picnic area. It is located on Highway 271, 0.8 miles north of Loop 323.

Transportation

Aerial photo of Tyler Pounds Regional Airport in Tyler, Texas, shot by Butler Planning Services on 9/9/2005.

As with much of modern America the automobile is the most common form of transportation. 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 originally encircled the city, which has continued to grow outside of the loop. This expansion is the reason for the new loop 49 which is currently under construction. Loop 49, designed to be an "outer loop" around the city, and connect to I20. The first five-mile segment, which connects Highway 155 south with Highway 69 south, opened for use on August 17, 2006. A second segment connecting Highway 69 with Paluxy Drive opened in January, 2008.

Public transportation

The city's Tyler Transit buses run daily, excluding Sundays and holidays. Greyhound Lines bus service is available through a downtown terminal.

Via air

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport offers service to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport via American Eagle and to Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport via Colgan Air Continental Connection.

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.

Healthcare

Hospitals located in Tyler include East Texas Medical Center, Trinity Mother Frances Health System, University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, and Texas Spine & Joint Hospital. Tyler serves as a major medical center for communities throughout East Texas.

First Baptist Church in downtown Tyler

Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler

Family Life Center of West Erwin Church of Christ in Tyler

Churches

Tyler is the home of many churches, including three large ones in the downtown area, the Marvin United Methodist Church, West Erwin Church of Christ, and First Baptist Church.

Media

There are currently 18 media outlets and one newspaper located in Tyler, as well as many more in the surrounding areas.

Newspaper

• Tyler Morning Telegraph

Television

Radio

AM stations

FM stations

Sports

Baseball teams

• Tyler Elbertas (1912)
• Tyler Trojans (1924–1929, 1931, 1935–1940, 1946–1950)
• Tyler Sports (1932)
• Tyler Governors (1933–1934)
• Tyler East Texans (1950–1953)
• Tyler Tigers (1954–1955)
• Tyler Wildcatters (1994–1997)
• Tyler Roughnecks (2001)

Football

• East Texas Twisters (2004)

High school sports teams

Football

• John Tyler Lions
• Robert E. Lee Red Raiders
• T.K. Gorman Crusaders
• All Saints Trojans
• Grace Cougars
• Chapel Hill Bulldogs
• Kings Academy Royals

Notable events

• On May 11, 2003, East Texas housewife Deanna Laney murders two of her children and maimed another, claiming God told her to do it. She was eventually acquitted by reason of insanity.^[26]
• On February 24, 2005, David Hernandez Arroyo Sr. murdered his ex-wife and wounded his son in front of the Smith County Courthouse in Tyler, Texas. A shootout and escape attempt followed, and Arroyo was killed.^[27]
• The 2007 reality show Anchorwoman was filmed in Tyler, at CBS affiliate KYTX. The show ran for two episodes aired on one night before being canceled by Fox.
• On the evening of February 2, 2009 a fire engulfed a number of historic buildings located in downtown Tyler. Eight different fire departments responded to the fire.^[28]
• On September 23, 2009, a teacher at John Tyler High School was stabbed and killed by a student.^[29]

Notable Tylerites

Actors/Actresses

• Sandy Duncan - actress (though born in Henderson, she grew up in Tyler); attended Birdwell Elementary School, Robert E. Lee High School, and Tyler Junior College
• Alex Finlayson - playwright
• Arthur "Dooley" Wilson - actor and singer most well known for playing Sam in the movie Casablanca

Athletes

• Gary Baxter - NFL cornerback + *
• Ciron Black - LSU All-American offensive tackle
• Earl Campbell - NFL Hall of Fame running back nicknamed "The Tyler Rose"; attended John Tyler High School
• Chris Carter - former NFL safety
• Travis Chick - MLB pitcher (2006)
• Tim Crowder - NFL player, Denver Broncos defensive lineman
• Derek Farmer - NFL running back, San Diego Chargers
• Matt Flynn - LSU quarterback, BCS National Championship MVP
• Hunter Freeman - MLS defender
• Randy Grimes - NFL center/guard (1983–1990, 1992)
• Daniel Hernández (soccer) - MLS defender
• Clarence Huber - MLB third baseman (1920–1921, 1925–1926)
• Philip Humber - Minnesota Twins pitcher from nearby Carthage, Texas but now living in Tyler
• Larry Johnson - NBA forward New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks 1991-2001
• Gary Jones - NFL defensive back
• Ronnie Lee - NFL tight end/offensive lineman (1979–1992)
• Billie Wayne Lemons (1955–2008) - born in Tyler; played for Cleveland Browns, 1977; Church of Christ minister in Lubbock
• Tremain Mack - National Football League, Cincinnati Bengals DB 1997-2000
• Pat Mahomes - MLB pitcher (1992–1997, 1999–2003)
• Jerry Mumphrey - MLB outfielder (1974–1988)
• Terrence Murphy - former Texas A&M University standout and Green Bay Packers wide receiver
• Brandon Pettigrew - NFL tight end, Detroit Lions, 2009–present
• Kristee Porter - professional volleyball player; three sport athlete at UCLA; All-American
• Archie Reynolds - MLB pitcher (1968–1972)
• Derrell Robertson - football player
• Aaron Ross - NFL player, New York Giants cornerback, 2006 winner of the Jim Thorpe Award
• Louis Santop - Negro League catcher (1909–1917, 1920–1926), member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
• Lee Tunnell - MLB pitcher (1982–1985, 1987, 1989)
• Buddy Turman (1933–2007) - heavyweight boxer from Noonday, Texas
• Morgan Wade - Pro BMX Rider
• Doug Wyatt - NFL safety (1970–1974)

Musicians

• Arab - rapper, partner of Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
• Paul Baloche - contemporary worship music singer/songwriter
• Max Bemis - lead singer of rock band Say Anything, who is also married to Sherri DuPree of Eisley.^[30]
• Ken Bethea - guitarist for Old 97's
• Richard Dobson - singer/songwriter
• Eisley - indie band comprising Chauntelle, Sherri, Stacy, Weston and Garron DuPree.
• Teron Beal - Songwriter Michael Jackson. Bonnie Raitt, Mya
• Element Eighty - alternative metal band comprising Zack Bates, Ryan Carroll, David Galloway and Matt Woods.
• Johnny Gimble - Award-winning fiddle player associated with Western Swing and Bob Wills.
• Shaun Groves - Christian-rock singer/songwriter
• Hobbit - 1970s/1980s rock band
• Johnny Horton - country singer
• Will Jennings - songwriter
• Ralph Kirshbaum - world famous classical celllist
• Adam Lazzara - lead singer of emo band Taking Back Sunday
• Lix - 1980s metal band
• Mouse and the Traps - 1960s Garage rock band comprising Buggs Henderson, Ken Murray, David S. Stanley and Ronnie "Mouse" Weiss.
• Ivoryline - alternative band
• Taylor Muse - frontman for band Quiet Company

Others

• John E. Barrett - photographer (world-renown images of Jim Henson and his Muppets; National Lampoon poster Are You A Nerd?)
• Leo Berman - District 6 member of the Texas House of Representatives since 1999
• Josh Byerly - NASA spokesman and one of the "voices of Mission Control"
• Jo-Carroll Dennison - Miss America 1942, the first Miss Texas to win the national title
• Kevin Eltife - member of the Texas Senate
• Jonna Fitzgerald - former Miss Texas, runner-up in Miss America pageant, television news anchor, noted musician
• Brady P. Gentry - former Chairman Texas State Highway Commission; former US Congressman; Gymnasium at Tyler Junior College named after him
• Louie Gohmert - U.S. representative and former Smith County judge
• Grady Hallman - world famous heart surgeon
• Mary Cage Moore Irwin - former Miss Texas
• William Wayne Justice - Federal District Court Judge in Tyler for 30 years - made countless key decisions on environment and civil rights
• Shirley Strum Kenny - former President of Queens College and of SUNY Stony Brook—both in New York State
• Howard Kirshbaum - former Justice of Colorado Supreme Court
• Molly Grubb Lynn - former Miss Texas
• Holly Maddux - murdered by Ira Einhorn, "The Unicorn Killer"
• Frank Melton - mayor of Jackson, Mississippi
• Sarah McClendon - Journalist and White House correspondent for over half a century, longest tenure ever in the White House press corps
• Albert Parsons - Anarchist orator and journalist executed in the aftermath of the 1886 Haymarket Affair
• Kiki Shepard - TV host of Live in Hollywood and formerly of It's Showtime at the Apollo
• Lisa Dalzell Spooner - former Miss Texas, television news anchor
• William Steger - U.S. district judge (1970–2006)
• Ned Touchstone - (1926–1988), leader of the Radical Right in 1960s and 1970s
• Brian Werner - tiger conservationist, Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge
• Watson Wise - oilman, philanthropist and benefactor; delegate to UN 13h General Assembly and special counsel to NATO; funded Dialysis centers; funded TJC Cultural Arts Center and Auditorium; funded Health Center Library at UT Tyler and Library Wing at Yale
• Ken Herring - House competitor on the Speed(TV channel) Game Show Pass Time.
• Kelley Thompson- Playboy Playmate November 2009

Sister cities

• Jelenia Góra, Poland
• Lo Barnechea, Chile
• Yachiyo, Japan^[31]

See also

• East Texas
• Dry county (All alcohol, except Texas made wine, is not available for purchase, except in private clubs, bars or restaurants for on premises consumption)
• Smith County, Texas
• Lake Palestine

Further reading

• Mendoza, Alexander, “The Building of an East Texas Barrio: A Brief Overview of the Creation of a Mexican American Community in Northeast Tyler,” East Texas Historical Journal, 48 (no. 2, 2009), 26–37.

References

External links

• Tyler Chamber of Commerce
• Tyler Economic Development Council
• Smith County Historical Society
• Camp Ford Historic Park
• The Cascades of Tyler
• Hudnall Planetarium at Tyler Junior College
• Northeast Texas Public Health District website
• Tyler State Park
• Tyler, TX from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Tyler Texas Information : Tyler photos, history, government, tourism, links.
• Tyler Texas Weather : Weather conditions, radar, and forecasts.
• The University of Texas at Tyler
• Past Glimpses of Tyler, Texas

Municipalities and communities of Smith County, Texas County seat: Tyler Cities Arp | Hideaway | New Chapel Hill | Noonday | Overton‡ | Troup‡ | Tyler | Whitehouse Towns Bullard‡ | Lindale | Winona Unincorporated communities Flint | New Hope | Swan | Teaselville Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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