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4 Reasons to Take a Chance on Tyler, TX

Residents share a commitment to building the community.

By Rebecca Treon on June 25, 2020

Tyler TX
Tyler / Jeff Adkins

In east Texas, the city of Tyler is located roughly 100 miles southeast of Dallas and is Smith County’s hub for economics, education, finance, medicine and culture. With just over 105,000 residents, Tyler is a midsize city with a lot of heart, and that’s one reason why people choose it as a great place to relocate and put down roots.

Tyler TX
Tyler / Jeffrey S. Otto

1. Opportunity Knocks

An exciting career move brought Moody Chisholm and his family to Tyler. He was offered the opportunity to lead a new partnership between the University of Texas and Ardent Health Services that includes a 10-hospital, 74-clinic health system. Chisholm is now president and CEO of the system, UT Health East Texas.

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“My wife is from Texas, and we loved the area during our initial visit, so this was the right decision for our family,†Chisholm says. “I’ve enjoyed the work and impact we are making, and my family has found a real home here in Tyler. We love the Hollytree residential area we are in and the convenience of what’s available to us in the area.”

2. Stopping to ‘Sell’ the Roses

For others, Tyler is a great place to buy land for future retirement. Mark Story and his daughter, Krista Friend, own Chamblee’s Rose Nursery, which opened in 1953. The duo bought the nursery from the Chamblee family in 2019. Story bought land outside of Tyler about 10 years ago and retired last year, so they moved the nursery to that property. The land also features a peach orchard alongside the nursery’s 200-plus types of roses. Friend and her family run the nursery and the orchard while homeschooling her children.

7 Reasons Things in Tyler, TX are Coming Up Roses

“Tyler is a good-sized town that still has a small-town feel,†she says. “It’s only an hour and a half to Dallas if you need to get to the big city. Tyler just has a really good feel – all the people are really nice, and it’s just a good place to settle down and raise a family.”

Tyler TX
Tyler / True Vine Brewing Co.

3. Naturally Friendly

Tyler is known for its friendliness, to those who grew up there and newcomers alike.

“Being friendly is natural around here,†Chisholm says. “People are here because they want to be here, not because they have to be here. I love the ownership people take in making this a better place to live. There are so many great people committing their time to making this a great place to live.”

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He also loves the weather, which is not dissimilar to Florida where he’s originally from, and the geography of rolling hills that allows people to have property without feeling like they’re in a big city. Having high quality health care in Tyler is another major strength, and for the Chisholms, having lots of options to find a church community was important.

“When I first came here, I visited about a dozen churches, and there really are no bad choices,†he says. “There are so many talented worship leaders and friendly congregations – there’s a place for anyone who seeks a church home.”

Tyler TX
Tyler / Jeff Adkins

4. So Much to Love

Tyler is known for its 14-acre garden, the largest in the U.S. with more than 38,000 rose bushes and walking paths lined with fountains and gazebos. For 87 years, the city has hosted the Texas Rose Festival, which happens the third weekend in October. Tyler is also home to the East Texas State Fair, a popular annual event for residents.

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The area has a variety of outdoor activities available, especially cycling and running events like the FRESH 15k. Friend enjoys having access to the area’s lakes and surrounding communities, like Gladewater, known for its antique shops. Tyler also has great food and drink options – among them are Stanley’s Famous Bar-B-Que, one of the state’s best barbecue joints, and breweries like ETX Brewing Company and True Vine Brewing Company, just to name a few.

If you’d like to learn more about the Tyler area, check out the latest issue of Livability: Tyler, TX

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