Tyler, Texas is the county seat of Smith County, Texas in East Texas, United States. The city is named for President John Tyler in recognition of his support for Texas' admission to the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 83,650, though a 2005 demographics study commissioned by the city pegged the population at 101,106.
Tyler is referred to as the Rose Capital of America 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 boasts the nation's largest municipal rose garden and hosts the Texas Rose Festival each October.
Get in
Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (
website) offers service to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport via American Eagle Airlinesand to Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport via Colgan Air Continental Connection.
The city's Tyler Transit (
website) buses run daily, excluding Sundays and holidays. Greyhound Lines bus service is available through a downtown terminal.
Get around
Tyler is located adjacent to several major highways. Interstate 20 runs along the north edge of the city, and U.S. Highway 69 runs north-south through the center of town. The city also has access to U.S. Highway 271, Texas State Highway 31, Texas State Highway 155, and Texas State Highway 110.
Texas State Highway Loop 323 was established in 1957 and originally encircled the city, which has continued to grow outside of the loop. Texas State Highway Loop 49, designed to be an "outer loop" around the city, is currently in the process of construction, with the first five-mile segment open for use on August 17th, 2006.
See
Tyler Rose Museum , 1900 W. Front, Tyler, TX. A spectacular display of memorabilia and items related to Tyler's rose-growing industry and the Texas Rose Festival. Admission Fee, special exhibits have fees.Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, 1900 W. Front, Tyler, TX. Fourteen acres and 400 rose varieties testify to Tyler's standing as the "Rose Capital of the World". To view a wonderfully informative page about the Rose Garden, please click here. FREE Admission.The Bonner-Whitaker McClendon House, 806 W Houston, Tyler, TX. One of the finest examples of Eastlake Bracketed Victorian Architecture remaining in East Texas. Guided Tours depicting Tyler's political, cultural history from post-Civil War. Birthplace of noted Washington D.C. news correspondent, Sarah McClendon. Tours available by appointment only.Cowan Center, The University of Texas at Tyler campus, 3900 University Boulevard, Tyler, TX. The UT Tyler Cowan Fine & Performing Arts Center presents national and international touring arts and educational programming to enrich the cultural climate for the East Texas Region. Artists presented by the Cowan Center’s many series have included Bill Cosby, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, David Copperfield, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Lyle Lovett, Momix, Gregory Hines, Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, and Broadway shows Miss Saigon, Annie, Chicago, Cats, and Stomp.Goodman Museum, 624 N. Broadway, Tyler, TX. A delight...
