Wylie, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wylie, Texas Nickelville (former)
City
Downtown Wylie
Location of Wylie in Collin County, Texas
Country	United States of America
State	Texas
Counties	Collin, Dallas, Rockwall
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	37.29 sq mi (96.57 km2)
• Land	22.06 sq mi (57.13 km2)
• Water	15.23 sq mi (39.45 km2)
Elevation	518 ft (158 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	57,526
• Density	2,405.90/sq mi (928.95/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	75098
Area code(s)	214, 469, 945, 972
FIPS code	48-80356
GNIS feature ID	2412311
Website	City of Wylie Official Website: http://www.ci.wylie.tx.us/index.php

Wylie is a city located northeast of Dallas in the state of Texas. It used to be only in Collin County. Now, it also reaches into nearby Dallas and Rockwall counties. Wylie is about 24 miles (39 km) northeast of central Dallas. It sits between Lavon Lake and Lake Ray Hubbard.

History of Wylie

How Wylie Got Its Start

Wylie was first known as Nickelville. This name likely came from the first store in the area. The town began in the early 1870s.

In 1886, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway built train tracks about half a mile north of Nickelville. To be closer to the railroad, businesses from Nickelville moved to the new spot. The city of Wylie was officially formed in 1887 along these tracks. It was named after Lt. Colonel William D. Wylie. He was a right-of-way agent for the railroad and a veteran of the American Civil War.

Growth and Development

In 1887, Wylie got its name, opened a post office, and set up its own government. Just two years later, another railroad, the St. Louis Southwestern Railway, arrived. Having two railroads and being in a rich farming area called the Blackland Prairies helped Wylie grow a lot.

By 1890, Wylie had about 400 people. The first one-room schoolhouse was built that year. By 1900, the population had grown to 773. In the next ten years, the number of people living there tripled! Before 1920, Wylie had over 35 businesses, including two banks, a school, and a weekly newspaper.

Wylie Through the Years

Unlike many small towns in Texas, Wylie continued to grow even during the Great Depression. By 1940, it had 914 residents. This was partly because more dairy farming was needed to supply milk to nearby Dallas. After World War II, the population kept increasing.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Onions were a very important crop for the town. Wylie earned the nickname "Wide Awake Wylie" in the late 1940s and 1950s. This was because people often gathered late at night, and some businesses stayed open until midnight.

The construction of the Lavon Dam and Reservoir about 5 miles (8 km) north of Wylie also helped the town grow. This dam was built to provide water for towns in four counties. Wylie was chosen to host the offices for the North Texas Municipal Water District. This led to the population reaching 1,804 by 1960.

Challenges and Recovery

Wylie faced two major disasters in the 1990s. On May 9, 1993, a powerful tornado hit downtown Wylie. Then, in December 1998, two fires destroyed or damaged several businesses. After these events, the downtown area was rebuilt and improved. Many of the old buildings, some over a century old, were saved and restored.

More recently, on April 11, 2016, a severe hail storm struck Wylie. It brought hailstones as big as softballs! This storm damaged about 80% of the homes in the city, causing over $240 million in damage.

Geography and Climate

Where Wylie is Located

Wylie covers a total area of about 35.3 square miles (91.5 square kilometers). About 21 square miles (54.4 square kilometers) of this is land, and about 14.3 square miles (37.0 square kilometers) is water. This means a large part of Wylie's area is covered by water, mostly from the nearby lakes.

Wylie is in a subtropical region. This means it has hot, dry summers. Winters are usually cold, mild, and rainy.

Wylie's Weather Patterns

Wylie experiences a range of temperatures throughout the year. Summers are hot, with average high temperatures in July and August reaching over 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius). The highest temperature ever recorded was 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44 degrees Celsius) in June and September.

Winters are milder, with average high temperatures in January around 53 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius). The coldest temperature ever recorded was -3 degrees Fahrenheit (-19 degrees Celsius) in December. Wylie gets a good amount of rain, with an average of about 39.8 inches (101 cm) per year. Most of the rain falls in spring and fall. Snow is very rare in Wylie, with an average of only 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) per year.

People of Wylie

Population Growth Over Time

Wylie has seen a lot of growth in its population. In 1890, there were only 239 people. By 1900, the population had grown to 773. The biggest jump happened between 2000 and 2010, when the population grew from 15,132 to 41,427. This was a huge increase of 173.8%!

The most recent count in 2020 showed that 57,526 people live in Wylie. As of 2023, the estimated population is even higher, at 61,078.

Diversity in Wylie

Wylie is a diverse city with people from many different backgrounds. In 2020, the population included:

• About 51.42% White (not Hispanic or Latino)
• About 13.55% Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino)
• About 9.9% Asian (not Hispanic or Latino)
• About 19.57% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
• Smaller percentages of Native American, Pacific Islander, and people of two or more races.

In 2000, about 50.7% of households in Wylie had children under 18 living there. The average household had about 2.96 people. The median age in the city was 31 years old. This means half the people were younger than 31 and half were older.

Education in Wylie

Most of Wylie is served by the Wylie Independent School District. However, some parts of Wylie are served by other school districts. These include Community Independent School District, Plano Independent School District, and Princeton Independent School District in Collin County. The part of Wylie in Dallas County is served by Garland Independent School District. The Rockwall County part is served by Rockwall Independent School District.

As of late 2019, Wylie had 11 elementary schools, 3 intermediate schools, 3 junior high schools, and 3 high schools. One of these high schools is Achieve Academy. For higher education, Collin College opened a new campus in Wylie in August 2020. This campus can serve up to 7,500 students when it is full.

Getting Around Wylie

Major Roads

Wylie is connected by several important highways and roads. These include:

• State Highway 78
• Farm to Market 544
• Farm to Market 1378
• Farm to Market 2514
• Farm to Market 3412

Rail Services

The Kansas City Southern company provides freight rail services in Wylie. Their train line runs roughly parallel to State Highway 78. They also have an intermodal facility in the city. This is a place where goods can be easily transferred between different types of transportation, like trains and trucks.

Famous People from Wylie

Many talented people have come from Wylie, Texas. Here are a few:

• Eno Benjamin – An NFL running back who plays for the New Orleans Saints.
• Joe Eisma – A comic artist known for his work with Image Comics, DC Comics, and Archie Comics.
• Kyle Fuller – An offensive lineman who plays center for the Houston Texans.
• Jackie Galloway – A bronze medalist in taekwondo at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Chris Givens – A former NFL wide receiver.
• Bill Harris – A Major League Baseball pitcher from the 1930s.
• Braden Shewmake – An MLB shortstop for the Atlanta Braves.
• Victor Ulloa – A defensive midfielder who plays football for Inter Miami.
• Nikita Whitlock – A former NFL fullback.

See also

In Spanish: Wylie (Texas) para niños