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Tyler, Texas is a well-known destination for senior vacations and a popular golf retirement community.

Tyler TX History

The earliest Native Americans to inhabit the Tyler area were the Caddo Indians. Later, the Cherokee and Kickapoo Indians arrived and secured a land grant from Mexico. In 1839, the Texas governor forced the Indians to retreat into what is now Oklahoma. Anglos settled in the area during the last years of the Republic of Texas.

The Texas legislature authorized the formation of Tyler in 1846 and named it for President John Tyler. During the Civil War, Tyler was the site of a large Confederate prison and the largest Confederate ordnance plant in Texas.

Tyler achieved city status in 1907. By 1900, there were more than one million fruit trees, mainly peach, in the area. After blight destroyed most of the peach trees, farmers turned to growing roses. By the 1920’s, the rose industry was a major business. By the 1940’s, more than half the U.S. supply of rose bushes was grown within ten miles of Tyler. In 1930, the city became a regional center for the oil and gas industry when oil was discovered in East Texas. Between 1931 and 1973, more than 167 million barrels of oil were produced in East Texas.

Tyler Texas – The Rose Festival & Challenging Golf Courses

Today, seniors come to Tyler, Texas for the annual Azalea & Spring Flower Trail and the Texas Rose Festival. They also enjoy the challenging golf courses, crystal-clear lakes and the many entertainment choices available in town.