Looking Back on How Much Tyler, Texas Has Grown Over the Years

(Tyler, Texas) - Hi. My name is Michael Gibson. I have lived in East Texas my entire life. I was born and raised in Lindale, Texas. I graduated Lindale High School (Go Eagles!) in 1996 (**gulp** our 30th high school reunion is this year). I have seen so much change in East Texas in my 48 years of life here.

Tyler was always the "big city" for us Lindalians. We could go to Walmart. We could go see a movie, go the mall, go roller skating and so much more as a kid of the 80s and teenager of the 90s. Tyler was big but still had a small town vibe to it. Not anymore.

Tyler is Such a Big City Now

Tyler was, at one time, a small town. It is not anymore. Tyler has a population that goes over 105,000, the largest in East Texas. Tyler is full of retail shops both locally owned and big name chains. Tyler is overfilled with places to eat with almost every type of food from around the world.

Tyler's only real weakness is entertainment. Since the Oil Palace has new owners, maybe we could see a revival of that arena. Times Square Grand Slam is a great entertainment spot and Dave & Busters will be breaking ground soon in the Village at Cumberland Park.

Looking Back on the Small Town Feel of Tyler

For those that have lived here their whole lives, like myself, you've seen how Tyler has grown just in the last 30 years. You look at South Broadway and how the shops and restaurants line the street all the way to Toll 49. I can remember, in the early 90s, once you got past Broadway Square Mall, that was pretty much it. I think the furthest establishment going south was the Red Barn Square.

Walmart wasn't a supercenter then and had only two locations, on the West Loop in the building that houses UHaul now and on Troup Hwy in the building that is now At Home. Other than Brookshire's Warehouse, Old Jacksonville Highway didn't have much. The Caldwell Zoo was free. You could enjoy a cheap steak at Bonanza where Layne's Chicken Fingers and 7 Brew Coffee is now.

This is Proof of How Big Tyler is Now

A Huge "Thank You" goes out to Ashley Gayle for giving us permission to use her photo. Yes, that is Tyler. You can clearly see Highway 31 and 64, Highway 155, Highway 69 north and south and Highway 110 going into Whitehouse.

You can see almost the entirety of Loop 323. Tyler is as recognizable as Dallas or Houston from the sky. Tyler is no longer a small town.

Ashley Gayle

Progress is Great, But I Miss the Small Town Vibe, Too

I'm all for progress. But at the same time, I miss the innocence and small town vibe of Tyler. We used to be able to cruise around Loop 323 without having to stop at a light every thousand feet. Oh yes, the loop used to be that open.

I can say the same thing about my hometown of Lindale. I moved back about 4 years ago after living in Tyler for 20 plus years. When I graduated high school in 1996, there was no Walmart, no Lowes, hardly any strip centers and the population was just under 2,500.

Yes, I miss "old" Lindale but I'm happy its seen the growth and the people that love to live there.