City of Tyler

City of Tyler Municipal Water Report Info
This information has been compiled from resources at the Tyler Public Library and other official sources. Residents interested in Tyler's history are encouraged to visit the library for additional details.

Smith County was established by the first Texas Legislature in April 1846. A centrally located hilltop site was chosen as the county seat and named Tyler to honor President John Tyler for his support of Texas statehood. The original town layout featured five north-south streets intersecting with four east-west streets, with a small courthouse constructed on the public square's north side.

On August 8, 1846, residents elected the first county officials including judge, clerks, sheriff, and commissioners. Tyler's municipal government was incorporated in 1850, led by a mayor and four aldermen. Between 1855-1858, the first brick commercial buildings appeared - five two-story structures that became the heart of local commerce.

By 1860, Tyler had grown to 1,024 residents with thriving small industries including flour mills, cabinet shops, and factories producing wagons, spinning wheels, firearms, hats and furniture. During the Civil War, Tyler hosted Texas's largest Confederate ordnance plant, and in 1863, Camp Ford was established as a prisoner-of-war camp that eventually held 6,000 Union prisoners.

The post-war decade saw steady population growth. A significant development came in 1877 when the first 21 miles of the Tyler Tap Railroad connected Tyler to the Texas and Pacific Railway, establishing the city as a regional transportation hub. The public school system began in 1882, and Texas College was founded in 1894 for African American students. Modernization continued with electric power arriving in 1888.

The agricultural economy diversified by 1900, with over one million fruit trees (primarily peach) cultivated in the county. When disease affected the fruit industry, many farmers transitioned to rose cultivation, which proved ideal for local soil conditions. By the 1940s, more than half of America's rose bushes were grown within ten miles of Tyler, inspiring the Texas Rose Festival tradition that began in 1933.

The 1930s brought economic transformation with the discovery of the East Texas oilfield. Energy companies established offices in Tyler, cementing its position as a regional center for the petroleum industry. The population reached 28,279 by 1940. During World War II, Camp Fannin's establishment northeast of town further stimulated growth as the military training facility processed thousands of infantry soldiers.

Today, Tyler boasts over 108,063 residents across 57.16 square miles. The city serves as East Texas's hub for manufacturing, healthcare, education and retail, offering metropolitan amenities while maintaining its friendly small-town character.