Although the City of Lindale did not get its official start until 1871, the area saw much activity before then. The predominant Indian tribe was Caddo, or Hasinais, as they were also known. Traces of their camp sites can be found along most any stream in the area. These were the Indians that the first European explorers to this area contacted in the 17th Century. Contact with settlers was oftentimes less than healthful, as settlers brought in diseases to which the tribes had no immunity. By the early 1800's these tribes were very much depleted and had been replaced by Cherokees, who had been forced into East Texas by the U.S. Government. The Cherokees held valid claim to this area, until forced out by the Texas Republic in 1839.
Settlement of what would become Smith County did not get a good start until the repeal of the Cherokee Land Bill in 1844. Various settlements sprang up as settlers flooded into the area. Such names as Mechanicsville, Garden Valley and Flora; as well as many smaller communities, found their niche in the area. Mechanicsville was located about three miles west of New Harmony; and, was a principal source of lumber, during the 1850's. The town's businesses also supplied furniture and leather goods to the Confederacy, during the Civil War. A disastrous fire, in 1869, spelled the end of Mechanicsville.
Probably the principle city, for the northern part of Smith County, during the 1850's, '60's and '70's was Garden Valley. Despite the way the site looks today, this community once had churches, schools, many businesses plus a large number of residences. Some records indicate that there were several hundred building there, at one time.
Flora was located along the Old Dallas-Shreveport Road, between two branches of Duck Creek. With it's site along one of the main thoroughfares in the area; the town prospered until after the Civil War. The depletion of manpower during the war was the main reason for Flora's demise.
By the late 1860's, Richard B. Hubbard, a former officer in the Confederate Army and owner of a large plantation on what is now part of Hide-A-Way Lake, saw the need for a more convenient site for the shipment of his produce. Toward this end, he convinced railroad officials to lay track between Tyler and Mineola. With the opening of the first business, a general store by Elijah Lindsey, Hubbard's brother-in-law, Lindale got its official start in 1871. Lindsey was also elected as the first Mayor in 1872. His mercantile store was located along the tracks not far from where First Baptist Church now stands. Although numerous stories exist as to how the name of Lindale was chosen, the most consistent is that "Lindsey" and "dale" were combined to form "Lindseydale". The name was shortened to Lindale, when the post office opened in 1874. By the end of the decade, numerous other businesses had located in town, and produce was being shipped from the site, at an ever-increasing rate.
In 1875, the Great Northern Railroad came through Lindale, facilitating the growth of the canning and fruit packing industries. By the late 1880's, Lindale had a population of 300 and was considered a center for the canning of fruits and berries. The town also had a Masonic Lodge. The decline of Garden Valley also started about this time, as more and more businesses, as well as citizens, moved nearer to the railroad. In 1888, the Limerick Hotel was up and operating, not only as a boarding place; but, as Lindale's first school and it's only church. The first building, specifically built for a school, was erected in 1890. In 1905, the school had become so crowded that several more rooms were added. In 1914, a three story brick school house was built, lasting until the 1930's, when it was replaced. Beginning in 1932, Lindale consolidated with the smaller school sites around the area, such as Saline, Nebo, Harris Chapel and Sabine, to become the Lindale Independent School District.
The first newspaper in Lindale was started by Tom Cooper, Sr. in 1900; and, two years later the town had one canning factory, two cotton gins, several shops, churches, a telephone exchange, a doctor and a lawyer. In 1905, the city was incorporated; and, John S. Ogburn became the first mayor of the incorporated city. The town covered about a square mile around the corner of Hubbard and Commerce streets.
The area continue to grow, with produce continuing to be the main focus of the economy. Canning companies such as Woldert, Lindale and Star helped in this effort and supplied a ready source of jobs for many years. During the middle part of this century, Lindale garnered the reputation as being the blackberry capital of the world, with tons of berries being canned and shipped each year. Migrant farm laborers made Lindale, a yearly stop on their travels - and made Lindale a livlier place, while they were here.
In the late 1960's, Hide-A-Way Lake, a private community outside of Lindale, was developed around three small man-made lakes, as a retirement community. Today it is home to nearly 3,000 residents, not all of them retirees. Hide-A-Way Lake has it's own golf course, community lodge, newspaper, security patrols and other amenities. The Lindale school district encompasses both Lindale and Hide-A-Way Lake, as well as other areas; and, enjoys the reputation for quality education. There are five instructional campuses, including a new High School that opened in 1995.
Though Lindale's fruit and vegetable market has declined over the past two decades, forcing many workers to find jobs in other cities such as Tyler, 12 miles to the south. It has been replaced by cattle, hay production and roses. Through all of it's changes, Lindale remains a vibrant town with a population of about 2,500, that looks forward to much more growth in the future.