Population |
230,221 |
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Physical Features: Populous East Texas county of rolling hills, many timbered; Sabine River, Neches River, other streams; Lake Palestine, Lake Tyler, Lake Tyler East; alluvial, gray, sandy loam, clay soils.
Economy: Medical facilities, education, government/services, agribusiness, petroleum production, manufacturing, distribution center, tourism.
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History: Caddoes of area reduced by disease and other tribes in the 1790s. Cherokees settled in the 1820s; removed in 1839. In the late 1820s, first Anglo-American settlers arrived. Antebellum slaveholding area. County named for Texas Revolution Gen. James Smith; county created and organized in 1846 from Nacogdoches County.
Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 59.3; Black, 17.8; Hispanic, 19.9; Asian, 1.8; Other, 0.9; Two or more races, 1.8.
Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 3,109; deaths, 2,111; marriages, 1,781; divorces, 563.
Recreation: Activities on Palestine, Tyler lakes; Rose Garden; Tyler State Park, Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Mangament Area, Nature Center Wildlife Management Area; Goodman Museum; Caldwell Zoo; collegiate events; Juneteenth celebration, Rose Festival in October, Azalea Trail, East Texas Fair in September/October.
Minerals: Oil, gas.
Agriculture: Horticultural crops and nurseries, beef cattle, forages, fruits and vegetables, horses, Christmas trees. Market value $53.6 million. Timber sales substantial.
TYLER (106,740) county seat; health services, education, retail center, varied manufacturing; University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler Junior College, Texas College, University of Texas Health Center; hospitals, nursing school; museums, Camp Ford historic park; styles itself, “City of Roses".
Other towns include: Arp (1,042) Strawberry Festival in April; Bullard (3,986, part in Cherokee County); Flint (2,500); Hideaway (2,946); Lindale (5,907) distribution center, foundry, varied manufacturing, Country Fest in October; New Chapel Hill (635); Noonday (815) Sweet Onion festival in June; Troup (1,975, part in Cherokee County) plastic manufacturing, motorcyle customization, Crawfish Boil in May; Whitehouse (8,288) commuters to Tyler, government/services, Yesteryear festival in June; Winona (603).
Part of Overton (2,570, mostly in Rusk County).
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The East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Photo by Robert Plocheck. |