Timeline of Tyler, Texas

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Tyler, Texas, USA.

19th century

 * 1846 - Tyler founded as seat of newly created Smith County.
 * 1848
 * William Bartlett elected mayor.
 * First Baptist Church founded.
 * 1850
 * Town of Tyler incorporated.
 * Population: 1,024 (estimate).
 * 1851 - Tyler Telegraph newspaper begins publication.
 * 1863 - Camp Ford Confederate-run prisoner of war camp begins operating near town during the American Civil War.
 * 1870 - Bonner and Williams Bank in business.
 * 1871 - Bowdoin Literary Society founded.
 * 1874 - Houston & Great Northern Railroad begins operating.
 * 1877 - Tyler Tap Railroad built.
 * 1882 - "Public school system" organized.
 * 1888 - Tyler Electric Light and Power Co. in operation.
 * 1889 - Temple Beth El (synagogue) built.
 * 1890 - Population: 6,908.
 * 1894 - Texas College founded.
 * 1895 - Colored Methodist Episcopal church established.
 * 1898
 * Daily Courier newspaper in publication.
 * Texas Federation of Women's Literary Clubs conference held in Tyler.
 * 1900 - Population: 8,069.
 * 1900 - Population: 8,069.

20th century

 * 1904 - Carnegie Public Library of Tyler opens.
 * 1907 - City of Tyler incorporated.
 * 1909 - Smith County Courthouse built.
 * 1910 - Population: 10,400.
 * 1915 - "Manager-commission form of government" adopted.
 * 1916 - East Texas Fair begins.
 * 1918 - Chamber of Commerce incorporated.
 * 1926 - Tyler Junior College founded.
 * 1929 - Tyler Morning Telegraph newspaper begins publication.
 * 1930
 * East Texas Oil Field discovered in vicinity of Tyler; oil boom begins.
 * Liberty Theatre in business.
 * Population: 17,113.
 * 1931 - KGKB radio begins broadcasting.
 * 1933 - Texas Rose Festival begins.
 * 1935 - Bergfeld Park amphitheater built.
 * 1936 - Tyler Symphony Orchestra established.
 * 1938 - Tyler City Hall built.
 * 1940 - Tyler Theater built (approximate date).
 * 1943 - U.S. military Camp Fannin begins operating near city during World War II.
 * 1950 - Population: 38,968.
 * 1952 - Tyler Municipal Rose Garden opens.
 * 1953 - Caldwell Zoo established.
 * 1954
 * Smith County Courthouse rebuilt.
 * KLTV (television) begins broadcasting.
 * 1955 - Green Acres Baptist Church (later megachurch) established.
 * 1959 - Smith County Historical Society founded.
 * 1971 - University of Texas at Tyler established.
 * 1975 - Broadway Square Mall in business.
 * 1980 - Population: 70,508.
 * 1986 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler established.
 * 1988 - East Texas Islamic Society founded.
 * 1996 - City website online (approximate date).

21st century
2022- Robert E Lee and John Tyler high school names were changed to Tyler Legacy and Tyler High
 * 2005 - Louie Gohmert becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 1st congressional district.
 * 2007 - Sky Vue Drive-In cinema in business.
 * 2010 - Population: 96,900.
 * 2011 - Liberty Hall opens.
 * 2014 - Martin Heines becomes mayor.
 * 2016 - Historic preservation city planning begins.