History of Wylie, TX

History of Wylie

Originally called Nickelville, reportedly after the name of the first store, Wylie was organized in the early 1870’s. The Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railway laid tracks a half mile north of the original townsite in 1886. The businesses of Nickleville moved to take advantage of the railroad within the following year, and the City of Wylie was incorporated in 1887 along the right-of-way. It was named for Lt. Colonel William D. Wylie, [5] a right-of-way agent for the railroad [6] and Civil War veteran.

By 1890, Wylie’s population had increased to 239 and it’s first one-room school was built. From 1890 to 1900, the population increased by 300% and a two-story schoolhouse was built along with the addition of a bank and gin mills.

In 1920, Wylie received electrical service and streetlights. Ballard Avenue was graveled in 1923; and Wylie enjoyed the self-proclaimed “Onion Capital of the World” title in the 30’s and 40’s. Due to the late night get-together’s of citizens in which businesses stayed open until midnight on some nights, “Wide Awake Wylie” became the City’s nickname in the late 40’s and 50’s.

In the late 70’s, Wylie began to receive some of the DFW growth. It’s population grew significantly specifically in the late 80’s and 90’s.

The 90’s also saw two major catastrophes- a tornado hit Wylie on Mothers Day in 1993, and in December 1998, two fires (one on the 9th and another on the 11th) destroyed and/or damaged a dozen or so businesses. The City and citizens turned this catastrophe into an opportunity to revitalize downtown.

In the 21st Century, Wylie has become one of the fastest growing communities in Collin County, DFW Metroplex and the State of Texas. With this growth, the City has made a transformation from “bedroom” community to a “balanced” community combining quality residential living with a healthy business climate. Source: City of Wylie website and Wikipedia