Wylie is a city in Collin, Dallas, and Rockwall Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 15,132, but recent rapid growth has 2004 estimates suggesting the population is already 25,850. Once solely located in Collin County, Wylie has extended into neighboring Dallas and Rockwall counties. Both Lake Lavon and Lake Ray Hubbard are within easy reach of the city. Since the 2000 census the population has grown 109.3%, making Wylie number 8 on the list of fastest growing cities in the nation. Current population is now listed at 32,696.
Wylie was organized in the early 1887 and originally called Nickelville, reportedly after the name of the first store.
In 1886 the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway laid tracks a half mile north of the original townsite. Within a year the businesses of Nickelville had moved to take advantage of the railroad and had named their new location Wylie, in honor of W. D. Wylie, a right-of-way agent for the railroad.
By 1890, Wylie had a population of 239. The first one-room school house was built in 1890. In the next ten years the population had tripled, and other elements came into the town.
That same year Wylie had given itself its name, had established a post office branch and incorporated, choosing an alderman form of government. Two years later the St. Louis Southwestern Railway reached the town. The two railroads and the rich agricultural region of the Blackland Prairies contributed to the town’s growth. Wylie had a population of 400 in 1890 and 773 in 1900. Before 1920 the community had over thirty-five businesses, including two banks, a school, and a weekly newspaper.
Unlike many rural Texas communities, Wylie grew during the Great Depression years, reaching 914 residents by 1940. In part this was a result of increased dairy farming to meet the demands of nearby Dallas. Following World War II the population continued to increase.
The onion had become a cash crop in the 30’s and 40’s for the town of Wylie. “Wide Awake Wylie” became the city’s nickname in the late 40’s and 50’s for the late night get-togethers of citizens. Businesses had stayed open until midnight on some nights.
The construction of Lake Lavon five miles north of town and the selection of Wylie to house the offices of the North Texas Municipal Water District, designed to provide water for towns in four counties, pushed the population to 1,804 in 1960.
In the 1990s Wylie had seen two disasters. On Mother’s Day 1993 a tornado had hit downtown Wylie. And in December 1998, two fires destroyed and damaged several businesses. After this the citizens renovated downtown, while still keeping the almost 100 year buildings standing.
In the 21st century Wylie had become a extremely fast growing city, becoming 8th fastest growing city in the nation. As such many new business and subdivisions had moved into the area.
