# Timeline of Tyler, Texas

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

## 19th century

Part of a series on the :
History of Texas :
Timeline :
| Pre-Columbian Texas | |
| Early Spanish explorations | 1519–1543 |
| French Texas | 1684–1689 |
| Spanish Texas | 1690–1821 |
| Mexican Texas | 1821–1836 |
| Republic of Texas | 1836–1845 |
| Statehood | 1845–1860 |
| Civil War Era | 1861–1865 |
| Reconstruction | 1865–1899 |
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* 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 – Robert Henson Hillard (4 March 1869 – 29 October 1895), accused of raping and murdering 23-year-old Rebecca Bell (née Rebecca Kinsey; 1872–1895), wife of Leonard Bell (1870–1900), was lynched – burned alive for 50 minutes – while 7,000 to 12,000 spectators watched; he was initially identified as Jim King
* 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.

## 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

* 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.
2022- Robert E Lee and John Tyler high school names were changed to Tyler Legacy and Tyler High