History of Lindale

Brief History of Lindale, Texas

Established in 1871 along the Tyler to Mineola railroad, Lindale was named for Elija Lindsey, the first merchant in the area. Several local stories abound about how Lindale got its name, but the most common one claims 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; a former officer in the Confederate Army and owner of a large plantation on which is now built Hideaway Lake, a private, gated community.  After the Civil War, Gov. Hubbard began searching for a more convenient way to ship produce grown on his land. Eventually he convinced railroad officials to lay track between nearby Tyler and Mineola.

Lindale is located due west of Steen Saline (salt wells or mines) where 3,000 men were employed during the Civil War to supply salt to the Confederate Army. The city also is located just south of the Vial – Fragoso Trail, a historic marker north on CR 431 at CR 452, 6 miles north of Lindale, a trade route blazed in 1788 from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Nachitoches, Louisiana.  Later it 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; a large percentage of the famous Tyler roses are grown and processed for shipment here. The area also has several wholesale tree farms.

The local motto of “Good County Living” is celebrated the second Saturday in October with the Lindale Chamber of Commerce’s CountryFest. The first Saturday in December, the community celebrates the Christmas season with a parade, several family-friendly events and businesses host open houses.  

Lindale is the hometown of renowned country singer Miranda Lambert.  Ms. Lambert's family lives here and she visits often.  The Lambert family operates the Pink Pistol & Miranda Lambert headquarters, where visitors can purchase Miranda Lambert souvenirs.   

The redevelopment underway of Lindale's downtown, known as The Cannery Project, is the catalyst project establishing this community as a premier destination for entertainment, shopping & dining in East Texas.  Increasingly, Lindale is attracting more retail and commercial businesses, truly becoming a site of expanding commerce along Interstate 20.  And because of Lindale's geographic location along Interstate 20, the city is growing in strategic value for distribution activities as well.  Lindale is home to a 1.6-million SF Target distribution center and a 165,000 SF FedEx distribution facility.