Brief History of Lindale, Texas

 Established in 1871 along the Tyler to Mineola railroad, Lindale was named for Elija Lindsey, first merchant in the area.  Several stories abound locally about how Lindale got its name, but the most common is that Lindsey's name was combined with the suffix "dale" to form "Lindseydale." The name was shortened to Lindale in 1874 when the first Post Office opened in town.   Lindsey was the brother-in-law of Governor Richard B. Hubbard.  After the Civil War, Richard B. Hubbard, a former officer in the Confederate Army and owner of a large plantation on what is today a gated community called Hide-A-Way Lake, began searching for a more convenient way to ship the produce grown on his land. Hubbard convinced railroad officials to lay track between nearby Tyler and Mineola.

Lindale is due west of Steen Saline (salt wells or mines) where 3000 men were employed during the Civil War supplying salt to the Confederate Army. Lindale is just south of the Vial – Fragoso Trail (historic marker north on CR 431 at CR 452, 6 miles north of Lindale) which was a trade route blazed in 1788 from Santa Fe, NM to Nachitoches, LA. The trail later became a cattle drive trail, then a stage coach route, and finally the main Dallas to Shreveport Road prior to the construction of US 80. By 1888, the fruit growing and canning industries flourished in the area, and by 1900 Lindale was known as the “fruit and berry center” of Texas.

Today, Lindale is the home of many rose fields where a large percentage of the Tyler roses are grown and processed for shipment. The area also has several wholesale tree farms. 

The local motto of “Good County Living” is celebrated the second Saturday in October with the Chamber of Commerce’s CountryFest.  The community also celebrates the Christmas season with a parade and tour of homes the first Saturday in December.  Many businesses also sponsor open houses. 

Lindale is also the hometown of country singer Miranda Lambert.  Lambert's family lives here and she visits occasionally.  The Lambert family also has the Miranda Lambert Store and HQ in downtown Lindale where visitors can purchase Miranda Lambert souvenirs.

Lindale is increasingly becoming a retail center and a node of commerce along Interstate 20, with a good selection of hotels and restaurants, and an increasing number of retail outlets.  Lindale is also growing in strategic value for distribution.  In 1998, Lindale became home to the largest (at that time) “tilt wall construction” building in the U.S. which is the 1.6 million square foot Target Distribution Center on Interstate 20.

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Recent History of Economic Development in Lindale, Texas

January, 1985 – Lindale Area Chamber of Commerce Organized to Promote the business climate and “Good Country Living” theme of Lindale

October, 1985 – First CountryFest held sponsored by Lindale Area Chamber of Commerce (LACC)

May, 1988 – First Rodeo sponsored by LACC

December, 1989 – Permanent Site for Rodeo Grounds Established

October, 1992 –  School Bond Passes for New High School

November, 1992 – Pat Rogers has the idea of a Lindale Economic Development Committee to coordinate the efforts of area boards and councils

March, 1993 – Formal Organization of Lindale Economic Development Committee

October, 1993 – Lindale Econonic Development Committee recommends to Chamber Board and then on to City Council the establishment of a ½ cent sales tax for economic development.

October 12, 1993 – City Council calls ½ cent sales tax election for January 15, 1994.

Oct. 12 – Jan. 15, 1994 – LACC promotes ½ sales tax passage. LACC does mail out to all Lindale residents in support.

January 15, 1994 – ½ cent sales tax passes.  City forms Lindale Economic Development Corporation (LEDC)

Early 1994 – Tom Mullins, (Tyler EDC), helps LEDC host breakfast for Tyler builders and developers to promote Lindale. As a direct result, Conaway Homes started building spec houses in The Woodlands later that year. As a result of the success of The Woodlands, Choice Homes and other developers and builders have started housing developments in the Lindale area. (The new streets of the Woodlands are curbed and guttered with sewer service at the suggestion of LEDC)

1993 – City begins annexation process for area along Highway 69 from Prairie Creek Church to I-20 with final action taken December 27, 1993. (All supported by Lindale Eco. Dev. Comm.)

1994 – Lindale and Tyler realign ETJ at I-20 and Hwy 69 and Lindale annexes south of I-20 bringing sewer service to that area west of Hwy 69. (Supported and encouraged by LEDC)

1994 & 1995 – Two new motels constructed at I-20 and Hwy 69 intersection.

October 18, 1994 – The Lindale Economic Development Corporation ( ½ cent sales tax board) begins to function.

February 16, 1995 – First grant given to King Manufacturing to relocate plant to Lindale.

April 28, 1995 – LEDC  receives grant from  Southwestern Bell to put sign on I-20 for two years to advertising places to stop at the Lindale intersection.

May 16, 1995 – First indication of a “distribution center” that was interested in the Smith County area including a Lindale location.

Later in 1995 – LEDC commits up to $1,000,000 over seven years to Dayton Hudson Corporation if Target Distribution Center is located within Lindale city limits. (Lindale becomes Target’s number one choice in Smith Co.)

December, 1995 – Target announces Lindale as their choice for the center. LEDC’s  potential commitment is reduced by TIF to $350,000 primarily to be used for overpass at Harvey Road and I-20.

April, 1998 – Cracker Barrel announces restaurant to be built in Lindale. (LEDC has been working on this.)

June, 1998 – Target Distribution Center opens.

December, 1998 – Cracker Barrel opens.

December, 1999 – Target Distribution Center employment over 1,000

2000 - Lindale and Tyler are jointly awarded Texas Economic Development Commission's top award for economic development cooperation on the Target project.

2000 - LEDC approves grant to Thermo Manufacturing for street improvement to relocate their facility to Lindale.

2001 - LEDC approves grant to Cates Cast Stone for sewer project to relocate their facility to Lindale.

2003 - LEDC approves infastructure grant to Lowe's to move water and gas transmission lines at site of new store.

2004 - Lowe's announces new store to be built in Lindale.

2004 - Trinity Mother Frances begins construction on new medical facility.

2004 - LEDC funds application for grant for streets to serve Lowe's and Trinity Mother Frances.

2004 - Walmart site plan is approved by Lindale City Council at the adjacent site to Lowe's.

Spring 2007 - LEDC Purchases 125-acres just off the southwest corner of I-20 and Harvey Road for development as an industrial park.

Summer 2007 - LEDC Purchases 135-acres at the northwest corner of I-20 and Harvey Road for development as a business park.

Summer 2007 - LEDC hires an a full time executive.  This is the first paid staff person for the organization.

2007 - LEDC appoints an advisory board and hires Adams Consulting Engineers (Tyler) to begin developing a master plan for the two parcels (above).

Fall 2007 - LEDC supports King Manufacturing with a business retention agreement (although the business ultimately closed in 2008).

2008 - Lindale EDC begins site search and negotiations with Decker Energy (Winterpark, FL) for a site for a biomass power plant near I-20.  The company optioned a 42-acre site in Lindale Industrial Park in May 2008.

2009 - Lindale EDC and the City of Lindale submit a grant application and are awarded an $850,000 infrastructure grant from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA) for infrastructure improvements in the Lindale Industrial Park.

2009 - Lindale EDC reaches an agreement with Smith County to upgrade Harvey Road south of the Target Distribution Center for the County to rebuild, and widen the road, with LEDC paying for the materials.

Spring 2009 - Lindale EDC helps broker a deal between the City and a developer to phase out the truck stop at I-20 and US 69 in favor of a retail pad site.   The project includes a potential sales tax rebate to rebate the developer for part of the cost of developing public road infrastructure on the site.