Tyler dates to 1846, and 35 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 80% of U.S. towns · #28 of 642 in Texas. What drives it
Most of Tyler was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1978. 35 places in town are on the National Register, among them nine historic districts with 2,870 buildings between them. Below: 4 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1880.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1847.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Tyler’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Tyler is more historic than 80% of U.S. towns, #28 of 642 in Texas. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Tyler’s overall grade.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Tyler ranks #120 on History.
Few Texas towns list much on the Register (a typical Texas town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Tyler’s 265 sits above most of its state (98% of Texas towns have fewer) while its 2,899 historic buildings outnumber those of 100% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to A+. The pre-1940 share (±0.8 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1846.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Tyler’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Legal recognition of Tyler was initiated by an act of the state legislature on April 11, 1846. The Texas government created Smith County and authorized a county seat. The first plat designated a 28-block town site centered by a main square within a 100-acre (40 ha; 0.16 sq mi) tract acquired by Smith County on 6 February 1847. The new town was named for President John Tyler, who advocated for the annexation of Texas by the United States. A log building on the square's north side served as a courthouse and public meeting hall until a brick courthouse displaced it in 1852. The City of Tyler was incorporated on January 29, 1850.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Tyler. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1948Tyler sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Tyler.
Every building
Tyler, building by building, 1885–1928
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
Ahavath AchimBarronCathedral in the PinesKendrickMcDougalOakwoodRose HillRose LawnSaint LouisSmithWestview
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Questions about Tyler’s history
What year was Tyler founded?
In 1846, according to Wikidata. Tyler’s post office opened in 1847, and the census of 1880 counted 2,423 people here.
How does Tyler rank for history?
Tyler is more historic than 80% of U.S. towns, #28 of 642 in Texas. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Tyler?
35 listings: 25 buildings, among them the Goodman-LeGrand House (listed 1976, the first), 9 historic districts with 2,870 contributing buildings, and 1 structure. 2,899 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Tyler?
5% of Tyler’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 1.6% for a Texas town; the median home was built in 1978.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (3), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (35), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1916
1918
