THE GREATER TYLER AREA
Tyler is located approximately 99 miles east of Dallas and 99 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana off Interstate Highway 20. The local airport, Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, has approximately twenty commuter flights daily both ways to DFW Airport, Houston International, and Austin (the state capitol).
Tyler is the county seat of Smith County. It is known as the “Rose Capital of the World”. The sandy soil and lush climate help it to produce more than one-third of the garden rose bushes in the U.S. Tyler offers all of the amenities of an urban center without the congestion. Tyler is 16th in the nation for cost of living in Retirement Places Rated: Special Millennium Edition.
The health care facilities make it the regional medical center of East Texas. State-of-the-art treatment is available in all major medical specialties including heart, lung, cancer, and transplants.
The consistently mild weather (average of 245 days of sunshine) offers an opportunity to enjoy the outdoor activities. There are three major lakes within twenty minutes of the city, six private country clubs, seven public golf courses, and twenty-five public parks and playgrounds. Caldwell Zoo is known as one of the finest small zoos in the nation and draws attention internationally. There are over 2000 animals and 250 species.
There are three colleges (Tyler Junior College, University of Texas at Tyler, and Texas College), a fine public library, a planetarium, an art museum, an aviation museum, several civic theaters, as well as a symphony orchestra. Dallas/Fort Worth offers within a two and one-half hour drive the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and the Dallas Stars. Entertainment in the metroplex area also includes Six Flags Over Texas, as well as Broadway musicals, art museums, and metropolitan shopping.
Tyler is known as the Bible Belt of East Texas. There are a large number of churches, both denominational and non-denominational, as well as several synagogues in the area.
Several major industries are located in Tyler: Trane Co., Tyler Pipe Industries, Carrier Air Conditioning, Target Distribution Center, Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., La Gloria Oil & Gas, and Brookshire Grocery Co., to name a few.
Tyler has a sales tax, no income tax, and property taxes are lower than the national average.
Tyler is a blend of the old and the new—historic brick streets, turn-of-the-century homes as well as blossoming subdivisions, gated communities, and abundant growth.
For further information contact the Tyler Chamber of Commerce.