Wylie, Taylor County, Texas
Encyclopedia
Wylie is an unincorporated community
in Taylor County
, Texas
, United States
. The once predominantly rural area has developed into a suburban
bedroom community in recent years as the city of Abilene
has expanded southward. A significant portion of Wylie now lies within the city limits of Abilene, although a few areas often associated with the community are located outside of the city and remain unincorporated
.
Even though much of Wylie is now located within the far southern portion of Abilene, the area has retained a distinct identity through its school system, the Wylie Independent School District
(Wylie ISD).
(Buffalo Gap Road) in the northeastern portion of Taylor County.
Wylie is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area
, which includes all of Taylor, Jones
, and Callahan
counties.
. Vance purchased several acres of land southwest of Abilene, and built the first general store
. Vance included a residence attached at the back for his family. The structure was located on the southwest corner of what is now the intersection of Buffalo Gap Road and Antilley Road. The store was known as Vances Corner.
That same year with the population growing residents went to Mary V. Wylie, widow of J. J. Wylie, for assistance with a school
and church. Mary donated land across the road to the north of the Vance store.
The Wylie school district was designated in 1888, but records indicate that the school did not operate until 1902.
In 1902 three prominent citizens contributed $120 apiece for the purchase of materials, and several residents got together to build a building for use as both a school and a church.
In 1904, John Vance installed a post office in his store and named it Sambo, for "Brother Sam," his good friend and neighbor Sam Little. The Sambo post office operated from December 1904 until February 1912, when Abilene began rural postal
delivery.
By 1915 the student population outgrew its current building. In her donation of land Mrs. Wylie stipulated that the name of the school be changed to Wylie, in honor of her late husband. The citizens accepted her terms and voted for a $3,000 bond
issue. A two-story plank building was constructed in 1916 and named Wylie School.
Between 1950 and 1986, Wylie's population more than tripled due to the tremendous growth in southwest Abilene. In the 1980s land development caused property valuations to increase more than tenfold. This growth brought affluent subdivisions such as the Fairway Oaks Country Club, and the Mall of Abilene
to the area.
. The district also serves southern Abilene, the communities of Potosi
, Caps
, and View
, as well as unincorporated areas in north central Taylor County.
Wylie ISD has five schools - Wylie Early Childhood Center (Pre-Kindergarten), Wylie Elementary School (Grades K-2), Wylie Intermediate School (Grades 3-5), Wylie Junior High School (Grades 6-8), and Wylie High School
(Grades 9-12).
The district's mascot is the Bulldog
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Taylor County
Taylor County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 126,555 people, 47,274 households, and 32,524 families residing in the county. The population density was 138 people per square mile . There were 52,056 housing units at an average density of 57 per square mile...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The once predominantly rural area has developed into a suburban
Suburbanization
Suburbanization a term used to describe the growth of areas on the fringes of major cities. It is one of the many causes of the increase in urban sprawl. Many residents of metropolitan regions work within the central urban area, choosing instead to live in satellite communities called suburbs...
bedroom community in recent years as the city of Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
has expanded southward. A significant portion of Wylie now lies within the city limits of Abilene, although a few areas often associated with the community are located outside of the city and remain unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
.
Even though much of Wylie is now located within the far southern portion of Abilene, the area has retained a distinct identity through its school system, the Wylie Independent School District
Wylie Independent School District (Taylor County, Texas)
The Wylie Independent School District is a public school district based in the far southern portion of Abilene, Texas, United States....
(Wylie ISD).
Geography
Wylie is located approximately five miles southwest of Downtown Abilene along FM 89Farm to Market Road 89
Farm to Market Road 89 or FM 89 is a state highway in the U.S. State of Texas that starts at FM 126 near Nolan and continues east to U.S. Highways 83 and 84 in Abilene.-Route description:FM 89 starts just east of the Nolan/Taylor County Line...
(Buffalo Gap Road) in the northeastern portion of Taylor County.
Wylie is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area
Abilene metropolitan area
The Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in west central Texas that covers three counties—Taylor, Jones, and Callahan. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 160,245 .-Counties:*Callahan*Jones*Taylor-Places with 2,500 to 5,000 people:*Anson*Clyde*Dyess...
, which includes all of Taylor, Jones
Jones County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,785 people, 6,140 households, and 4,525 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile . There were 7,236 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, and Callahan
Callahan County, Texas
*Baird*Belle Plain*Callahan City*Clyde*Cottonwood*Cross Plains*Eula*Putnam-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Callahan County, Texas-External links:* at the University of Texas*...
counties.
History
Wylie was named after J. J. Wylie, an early settler who moved Taylor County in 1880. The first settlers farmed in the Wylie area beginning 1881, Wylie as a community did not develop until 1902, when John H. Vance arrived from Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Vance purchased several acres of land southwest of Abilene, and built the first general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
. Vance included a residence attached at the back for his family. The structure was located on the southwest corner of what is now the intersection of Buffalo Gap Road and Antilley Road. The store was known as Vances Corner.
That same year with the population growing residents went to Mary V. Wylie, widow of J. J. Wylie, for assistance with a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
and church. Mary donated land across the road to the north of the Vance store.
The Wylie school district was designated in 1888, but records indicate that the school did not operate until 1902.
In 1902 three prominent citizens contributed $120 apiece for the purchase of materials, and several residents got together to build a building for use as both a school and a church.
In 1904, John Vance installed a post office in his store and named it Sambo, for "Brother Sam," his good friend and neighbor Sam Little. The Sambo post office operated from December 1904 until February 1912, when Abilene began rural postal
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
delivery.
By 1915 the student population outgrew its current building. In her donation of land Mrs. Wylie stipulated that the name of the school be changed to Wylie, in honor of her late husband. The citizens accepted her terms and voted for a $3,000 bond
Government bond
A government bond is a bond issued by a national government denominated in the country's own currency. Bonds are debt investments whereby an investor loans a certain amount of money, for a certain amount of time, with a certain interest rate, to a company or country...
issue. A two-story plank building was constructed in 1916 and named Wylie School.
Between 1950 and 1986, Wylie's population more than tripled due to the tremendous growth in southwest Abilene. In the 1980s land development caused property valuations to increase more than tenfold. This growth brought affluent subdivisions such as the Fairway Oaks Country Club, and the Mall of Abilene
Mall of Abilene
Mall of Abilene is an enclosed shopping mall in Abilene, Texas. It is located in the growing south side of the city, at the southwest corner of the busiest intersection in Abilene at Buffalo Gap Road and US 83/84 . It serves a 22-county trade area. Five stores anchor the mall JCPenney, Dillard's,...
to the area.
Education
Wylie is served by the Wylie Independent School DistrictWylie Independent School District (Taylor County, Texas)
The Wylie Independent School District is a public school district based in the far southern portion of Abilene, Texas, United States....
. The district also serves southern Abilene, the communities of Potosi
Potosi, Texas
Potosi is a census-designated place in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,664 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Potosi is located at...
, Caps
Caps, Texas
Caps is an unincorporated community in Taylor County, Texas, United States. It is located southwest of Abilene near the intersection of U.S. Highway 277 and FM 707. The community is part of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and View
View, Texas
View is an unincorporated community in Taylor County, Texas, United States. It is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 277 and FM 1235, approximately thirteen miles southwest of Abilene...
, as well as unincorporated areas in north central Taylor County.
Wylie ISD has five schools - Wylie Early Childhood Center (Pre-Kindergarten), Wylie Elementary School (Grades K-2), Wylie Intermediate School (Grades 3-5), Wylie Junior High School (Grades 6-8), and Wylie High School
Wylie High School (Abilene, Texas)
The Wylie Independent School District is a public school district based in the far southern portion of Abilene, Texas, United States....
(Grades 9-12).
The district's mascot is the Bulldog
Bulldog
Bulldog is the name for a breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge and the French Bulldog. The Bulldog is a muscular heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose...
.
External links
- Wylie Independent School District – Official site.
- Wylie Weekly – Community Newspaper.