Tyler, Texas

"Tyler Texas" redirects here. For the professional wrestler, see Lorelei Lee.

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 in Smith County and the state of Texas
Coordinates: 32°20′3″N 95°18′0″W
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	54.376 sq mi (140.833 km2)
• Land	54.2 sq mi (140.5 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation	544 ft (165 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	96,900
• Density	1,782.0/sq mi (688.0/km2)
Time zone	Central (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	Central (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	75700-75799
Area code(s)	430, 903
FIPS code	48-74144
GNIS feature ID	1348998
Website	http://www.cityoftyler.org

Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler [2]. The city had a population of 96,900 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau. Tyler is the principal city of the Tyler Metropolitan Statistical Area, with a population of 209,714 in 2010, and the regional center of the Tyler-Jacksonville combined statistical area, with a population of 260,559 in 2010.

Tyler has the nickname "Rose Capital of the Nation"[3]. It gained this name due to the large quantity of rose bushes processed through the area, along with hosting America's largest rose garden [4].

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 and Broadway Square Mall.

New Tyler welcome sign

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

Tyler City Hall

Geography

Tyler
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.3   57 38     3.7   64 41     4   72 49     3.7   78 55     4.5   84 63     3.7   90 70     2.2   94 73     2.6   94 72     3.3   88 67     5.1   78 56     4.5   67 48     4.8   58 40 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: Weather.com / NWS
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     85   14 3     95   18 5     101   22 9     94   26 13     113   29 17     93   32 21     55   34 23     66   34 22     83   31 19     131   26 13     113   19 9     121   14 4 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

Tyler is located at 32°20′03″N 95°18′00″W Elevation: 544 feet (166 m). 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 54.4 square miles (140.8 Square kilometres), of which, 54.2 square miles (140.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it is water.

Climate

Tyler experiences 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

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	2,423		—
1890	6,908		185.1%
1900	8,069		16.8%
1910	10,400		28.9%
1920	12,085		16.2%
1930	17,113		41.6%
1940	28,279		65.2%
1950	38,968		37.8%
1960	51,230		31.5%
1970	57,770		12.8%
1980	70,508		22.0%
1990	75,450		7.0%
2000	83,650		10.9%
2010	96,000		14.8%

As of the 2010 census, there were 109,000 people residing in the city. The population density was 1,782.0 people per square mile (688.0/km²). There were 41,742 housing units at an average density of 716.7 per square mile (276.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.5% White, 24.8% 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. 21.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Government

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 structure of the management and coordination of city services is:

City Manager Mark McDaniel

Finance Manager Daniel Crawford

Director of Human Resources ReNissa Wade

Director of Communications and Media Relations Susan Guthrie

Chief Information Officer Benny Yazdanpanahi

Director of Public Works Greg Morgan

Director of Solid Waste Dan Brotton

Fire Chief Tim R. Johnson

Police Chief Gary Swindle

City Attorney Gary Landers

Director of Planning and Zoning Barbara Holly

Director of Vehicle Services Russ Jackson

Director of Internal Audit and Budget Keidric Trimble

Director of Transportation Heather Nick

City Engineer Carter Delleney

Neighborhood Services Manager Brenda Johnson

Community Service Manager Larry Everett

Housing Manager Andy Davis

Housing Supervisor Candace Porter

Airport Manager Davis Dickson

Human Recources Manager Rose Ray

Water Utilities Financial Manager James Yanker

Water Utilities Manager Joan Roberson

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 Kevin Eltife, District 1, and in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Leo Berman, District 6.

The Texas Twelfth Court of Appeals is located in Tyler.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) 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 Kay Bailey Hutchison; Tyler is part of Texas' US Congressional 1st 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.

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 programs.

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, and the Brook Hill School(Bullard).

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, Fresh 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, the top ten employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	East Texas Medical Center	3,650
2	Trinity Mother Frances Health System	3,567
3	Tyler Independent School District	2,572
4	Brookshire Grocery Company	2,190
5	Trane Company	1,949
6	Wal-Mart	1,670
7	Carrier Corporation	1,201
8	Suddenlink	1,057
9	Tyler Junior College	998
10	The University of Texas at Tyler	854

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.
• DYNAenergetics Tyler Distribution Center, part of DYNAenergetics USA, which manufactures perforating equipment and explosives for the oil and gas industry.
• 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, Wood Networks, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 (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.

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 (1.3 km) 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 (8 km) 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. There are also many clinics including the Direct Care Clinic. Tyler serves as a major medical center for communities throughout East Texas.^{[citation needed]}

First Baptist Church in downtown Tyler

Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler

Family Life Center of West Erwin Church of Christ in Tyler

Place of Worship

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 and on Troup Hwy Green Acres Baptist Church. It is also the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Tyler. Tyler, too, is home to two Jewish houses of prayer, Ahavath Achim, which associates itself with Conservative Judaism and Beth El which adheres to Reform Judaism.

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

VHF/UHF Channel	Cable Channel	Call Letters	Network
7	7	KLTV	ABC
19	11	KYTX	CBS
56	10	KETK	NBC
51	12	KFXK	FOX

Radio

AM stations

Frequency	Call Letters	Format	Name
600	KTBB	News/Talk
690	KZEY	Urban Contemporary
1330	KGLD	Gospel	The Light
1490	KYZS

FM stations

Frequency	Call Letters	Format	Name
89.5	KVNE	Christian Contemporary	Encouragement FM
91.3	KGLY	Religious
92.1	KTBB-FM	Sports	ESPN East Texas
93.1	KTYL	Hot Adult Contemporary	Mix 93.1
96.1	KKTX	Rock	96X
96.7	KOYE	Spanish	La Invasora
99.3	KZTK	News/Talk/Sports	99.3 Talk FM
101.5	KNUE	Country
104.1	KKUS	Classic Country	The Ranch
106.5	KOOI	Adult Contemporary
107.3	KISX	Urban Contemporary	Hot1073Jamz

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

• Fragments of the Space Shuttle Columbia landed in Tyler on February 1, 2003. (See Space Shuttle Columbia disaster)
• On May 11, 2003, East Texas housewife Deanna Laney murdered two of her children and maimed another, claiming God told her to do it. She was eventually acquitted by reason of insanity.
• 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.
• 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.
• On September 23, 2009, a teacher at John Tyler High School was stabbed and killed by a student.
• The Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe, which prohibited denying schooling to immigrant children, originated in the Tyler Independent School District.

Notable Tylerites

Entertainment

• Emmett Alston - Writer, director, and producer of low-budget, independent films.
• Sandy Duncan - Born on February 20, 1946, in Henderson, Texas, but she grew up in Tyler where she attended Birdwell Elementary School, Robert E. Lee High School, and Tyler Junior College. Singer, dancer, and actress of stage, television, and movies. She is best known for her performances in the Broadway revival of Peter Pan and in the television sitcom The Hogan Family (seasons 3-6).
• Alex Finlayson - Born on December 4, 1951, in Tyler. A playwright whose sly irreverent plays have found more success on the English stage than in the United States. Her first play, Ladies' Side, was produced by the Source Theatre, Washington, DC, and received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best New Play of the Year. Her play, World of Beauty, won the 1988 Texas Playwrights Festival at Stages Repertory Theatre, Houston.
• Kiki Shepard - Born July 15, 1951, in Tyler. Television host of Live in Hollywood, and formerly of It's Showtime at the Apollo.
• Arthur "Dooley" Wilson - Born on April 3, 1886?, in Tyler, where he sang and played the drums in black clubs. He became an actor best known for playing Sam in the 1942 movie Casablanca.

Athletes

• Gary Baxter - Born November 24, 1978, in Tyler. A former NFL defensive back for the Baltimore Ravens (2001-2004) and Cleveland Browns (2005-2007). Attended John Tyler High School in Tyler.
• Ciron Black - Born October 29, 1986, in Tyler. Played college football for Louisiana State University. Projected as a right tackle in the NFL and was considered one of the best offensive tackles available in 2010. However, Black went undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft. Attended Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler.
• Jeb Blount - Born July 12, 1954, in Tyler. A former NFL quarterback for the Oakland Raiders (1976) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1977).
• Earl Campbell - Born March 29, 1955, in Tyler. A former NFL running back for the Houston Oilers (1978-1984) and New Orleans Saints (1984-1985). As a collegiate football player at the University of Texas at Austin, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1977. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 27, 1991. Nicknamed "The Tyler Rose". Attended John Tyler High School in Tyler.
• Chris Carter - Born September 27, 1974, in Tyler. A former NFL defensive back for the New England Patriots (1997-2000), Cincinnati Bengals (2000-2001), and Houston Texans (2002).
• Tim Crowder - Born June 30, 1985, in Tyler. NFL defensive end for the Denver Broncos (2007-2008) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-present). Attended John Tyler High School in Tyler.
• Derek Farmer - Born October 24, 1982, in Tyler. Signed contract in 2005 as a NFL running back for the San Diego Chargers, but was released the same year. Allocated to NFL Europe, where he played for the Berlin Thunder (2006). Attended Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler.
• Matt Flynn - Born June 20, 1985, in Tyler. NFL quarterback for the Green Bay Packers (2008-present). Attended Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler.
• Hunter Freeman - Born January 8, 1985, in Tyler. Major League Soccer defender/midfielder (2003-present).
• Randy Grimes - Born July 20, 1960, in Tyler. A former NFL center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1983-1992).
• Daniel Hernández - Born July 23, 1976, in Tyler. Major League Soccer defender/midfielder (1998-present). Attended John Tyler High School in Tyler.
• Clarence Huber - Born October 27, 1895, in Tyler. Former MLB third baseman for the Detroit Tigers (1920-1921) and Philadelphia Phillies (1925-1926).
• Kendall Hunter - Born September 16, 1988, in Tyler. NFL running back for the San Francisco 49ers (2011-present). Attended John Tyler High School in Tyler.
• Larry Johnson - Born March 14, 1969, in Tyler. Former NBA forward for the Charlotte Hornets (1991-1996) and New York Knicks (1996–2001).
• Billie Wayne Lemons - Born July 9, 1955, in Tyler. A former NFL player for the Cleveland Browns (1977). Died on October 12, 2008, while serving as a Church of Christ minister in Lubbock, Texas.
• Tremain Mack - Born November 21, 1974, in Tyler. A former NFL kick returner for the Cincinnati Bengals (1997-2000).
• Benny Malone - Born February 3, 1952, in Tyler. A former NFL running back for the Miami Dolphins (1974-1978) and Washington Redskins (1978-1979). He played college football at Arizona State and was drafted in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft.
• Jerry Mumphrey - Born September 9, 1952, in Tyler. Former MLB outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals (1974-1979), San Diego Padres (1980), New York Yankees (1981-1983), Houston Astros (1983-1985), and Chicago Cubs (1986-1988).
• Terrence Murphy - Born December 15, 1982, in Tyler. NFL wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers 2005). Attended Chapel Hill High School near Tyler.
• Brandon Pettigrew - Born February 23, 1985, in Tyler. NFL tight end for the Detroit Lions (2009-present). Attended Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler.
• Archie Reynolds - Born January 3, 1946, in Glendale, California, he attended John Tyler High School in Tyler. Former MLB pitcher for the Chicago Cubs (1968–1970), California Angels (1971), and Milwaukee Brewers (1972).
• Derrell Robertson - Born September 22, 1967, in Tyler. Former Canadian Football League player for the Las Vegas Posse (1994). Died in a car accident in December 1994.
• Aaron Ross - Born September 15, 1982, in San Antonio, he attended John Tyler High School in Tyler. NFL cornerback for the New York Giants (2007-present).
• Louis Santop - Born January 17, 1890, in Tyler. Former Negro League catcher (1909–1926) for the Philadelphia Giants, New York Lincoln Giants, Brooklyn Royal Giants, and Hilldale Daisies. Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 2006.
• Robert Taylor - Born September 14, 1948, in Tyler. 1972 Summer Olympics (Munich) - sprinter that won gold medal in 4x100 meter relay and silver medal in 100 meter; 1975 Pan American Games - gold medal in 4x400 m relay; father of Bobby Taylor, who played 10 years as a NFL defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks
• Josh Tomlin - Born October 19, 1984, in Tyler. MLB pitcher for the Cleveland Indians (2010–present). Attended Whitehouse High School near Tyler.
• Lee Tunnell - Born October 30, 1960, in Tyler. Former MLB pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1982–1985), St. Louis Cardinals (1987), and Minnesota Twins (1989). Also, a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (1991-1993).
• Morgan Wade - Born July 13, 1983, in Tyler. He competed as a professional BMX Rider in the 2006 and 2007 X-Games in the Freestyle and Big Air competitions.
• Doug Wyatt - Born October 18, 1946, in Tyler. A former NFL defensive back for the New Orleans Saints (1970-1972) and Detroit Lions (1973-1974).

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.
• 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.
• Brandon Beal - singer/songwriter/producer Flo Rida, Juelz Santana, Eric Saade.
• Shaun Groves - Christian-rock singer/songwriter
• Hobbit - 1970s/1980s rock band
• Johnny Horton - country singer
• Will Jennings - songwriter
• Ralph Kirshbaum - world famous classical celllist
• 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 - lead singer, Quiet Company
• Michael Bethancourt - keyboards, synth New Found Glory
• Willie Neal Johnson - lead singer of The Gospel Keynotes
• Tim Wheeler - Blues/Rock Fusion - Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter, named Texas Tornado of Guitar by Buddy Magazine 1984

Others

• John E. Barrett - photographer (world-renown images of Jim Henson and his Muppets; National Lampoon poster Are You A Nerd?)
• Jere Locke Beasley - Born December 12, 1935, in Tyler. He was the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of the US state of Alabama when Governor George Corley Wallace was shot and severely injured in an assassination attempt in Laurel, Maryland, on May 15, 1972. Since Wallace was out-of-state for more than 20 days, recovering in a Maryland hospital, the Alabama Constitution required that the lieutenant governor take over in the interim. Beasley served as the acting governor of Alabama from June 5 to July 7, 1972.
• 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
• A.C. Gentry - noted artist; born in Tyler in 1927; taught art at Hogg Junior High in Tyler; graduated Tyler Junior College in 1948; studied art at the University of Texas at Austin, where he taught himself to use watercolors; his work is said to have been influenced by New York artist Ed Whitney, who taught a watercolor workshop Gentry attended in Dallas
• 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
• Ken Herring - House competitor on the Speed(TV channel) Game Show Pass Time.
• Mary Cage Moore Irwin - former Miss Texas
• Jamie Jeffus (Livingston)- Tylerite, KTRE-TV News Producer
• 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 - Former Tylerite, murdered by Ira Einhorn, known as "The Unicorn Killer".
• Sarah McClendon - Journalist and White House correspondent for over half a century, longest tenure ever in the White House press corps
• Frank Melton (1949-2009) - Born in Houston, he became general manager in 1977 of KLTV in Tyler, where he climbed the ranks before becoming president of Buford Television, Inc. Served as mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, from July 4, 2005, until his death on May 7, 2009.
• Allen R. Morris - Born in Dallas, he is an Emmy Award winning producer/director/writer. For a period, worked for Buford Television at KLTV in Tyler, as Operations Manager and Director of Creative Services, during which time he was also a frequent actor at the Tyler Civic Theatre (1979 to 1990).
• Albert Parsons (1848-1887) – Born in Alabama, at one point resided in Tyler, where he was raised by his eldest brother, William Henry Parsons. William moved the family moved from Tyler in the mid 1850s. Albert is best remembered as one of four Chicago radical leaders convicted of conspiracy and hanged following a bomb attack on police remembered as the Haymarket Affair.
• William Henry Parsons (1826-1907) - At one point resided in Tyler, where he was the proprietor of the Tyler Telegraph, a small newspaper in the city. Raised his younger brother Albert Parsons, best remembered as one of four Chicago radical leaders convicted of conspiracy and hanged following a bomb attack on police remembered as the Haymarket Affair. William moved his family from Tyler in the mid 1850s.
• Lisa Dalzell Spooner - Born in Magnolia, Texas, she was Miss Texas in 2002. Later worked for a period as television news anchor for the CBS affiliate in Tyler.
• William Steger (1920-2006) - Served as U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Texas, based in Tyler, from 1970 until his death. The William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Tyler was named in his honor in 2006.
• Kelley Thompson- Born December 8, 1987 in Tyler. Playboy Playmate for November 2009.
• Ned Touchstone (1926–1988) - Born in Florien, Louisiana, he was the leader of the Radical Right in 1960s and 1970s. At the time of death, he resided on Lake Palestine near Tyler.
• Brian Werner - Born in Norwood, Ohio, he is a co-founder of Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge, located near Tyler.
• 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

See also

• Carnegie History Center
• Cotton Belt Depot Train Museum
• East Texas
• Goodman-LeGrand House
• Smith County, Texas
• Lake Palestine
• List of museums in Tyler, Texas
• Tyler Museum of Art
• Whitaker-McClendon House

Further reading

• Austin, Gladys Peters, Along the Century Trail: Early History of Tyler, Texas (Dallas: Avalon Press, 1946)
• Burton, Morris Tyler as an Early Railroad Center, Chronicles of Smith County, Spring 1963
• Betts, Vicki, Smith County, Texas, in the Civil War (Tyler, Texas: Smith County Historical Society, 1978)
• Everett, Dianna, The Texas Cherokees: A People between Two Fires, 1819–1840 (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1990)
• Glover, ed., Robert W., Tyler and Smith County, Texas (n.p.: Walsworth, 1976)
• Henderson, Adele, Smith County, Texas: Its Background and History in Ante-Bellum Days (M.A. thesis, University of Texas, 1926)
• McDonald, Archie P. Historic Smith County (Historical Publishing Network, 2006).
• Reed, Robert E. Jr. Postcard History: Tyler (Arcadia Publishing, 2009).
• Reed, Robert E. Jr. Images of America: Tyler (Arcadia Publishing, 2008).
• Smith County Historical Society, Historical Atlas of Smith County (Tyler, Texas: Tyler Print Shop, 1965)
• Whisenhunt, Donald W. comp., Chronological History of Smith County (Tyler, Texas: Smith County Historical Society, 1983)
• Woldert, Albert, A History of Tyler and Smith County (San Antonio: Naylor, 1948)

External links

• Tyler Chamber of Commerce
• Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Tyler Economic Development Council
• Tyler Junior College
• The University of Texas at Tyler
• Texas College
• Tyler Rose Museum
• The Center for Earth & Space Science Education at Tyler Junior College
• Tyler Museum of Art
• Caldwell Zoo
• Discovery Science Place
• Camp Ford Historic Park
• Tyler State Park
• Past Glimpses of Tyler, Texas - Tyler history & memorabilia
• Smith County Historical Society
• Tyler Texas Weather : Weather conditions, radar, and forecasts.
• Tyler, TX from the Handbook of Texas Online