Bullard is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 69 and roads 2493 (Old Jacksonville Highway), 2137, and 344, 12 miles south of Tyler in extreme southern Smith County. It lies between Tyler and Jacksonville, and is south of the communities of Gresham and Flint. Parts of the town are located in Cherokee County.
The William Pitt Loftin family settled in the area around 1850, and the Etna post office, located to the west of the current town, opened in 1867.
In 1870 John and Emma Eugenia Erwin Bullard settled in the area and in 1881 opened the Hewsville post office in his general store.
 An East Texas Farm Home at Bullard, Texas on Cotton Belt Route |
In 1883 the Etna post office closed and the Hewsville office was renamed Bullard.
The Bullard railroad station was completed in August 1884 by the Kansas and Gulf Short Line Railroad.
The community became a shipping point for cotton, vegetables, and fruits. By 1890 the town had a sawmill, two general stores, a physician, a smithy and wagon shop, a telegraph office, cotton gin and gristmill.
By 1892 Bullard had added a grocer, a constable, a justice of the peace, a druggist, a physician, a feed store, schools, and a new general store.
 Bullard, Texas Depot of the St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad |
In the 1920s additional business opened including several packing sheds, restaurants, a movie theater, and boarding houses. A portable jail, seven feet in diameter and made of a barred round tank on wheels, held prisoners until the county sheriff could escort them to Tyler. In the post-World War II years Bullard again became a shipping point for fruit and vegetables.
Today, Bullard is experiencing exponential growth as a "bedroom community" for Tyler, and a successful renewal of many of its downtown buildings.
Several major real estate developments are near Bullard, including the following:
Bullard is also close to the Eagles Bluff development and golfing country club.
Bullard is also only a few miles from the many recreational opportunities located around Lake Palestine.
Also located on Lake Palestine is the Emerald Bay development, just to the west of Bullard.
The area also features great opportunities for homebuilding on ranch properties and wooded sites in Cherokee County as well as Smith County.
Experienced and well respected builders such as Trent Williams Construction and Kevin Humphrey Homes are among the leading home builders in the Bullard area.
In addition to the golfing available in Emerald Bay, another nearby golfing opportunity is Oak Hurst Golf Course.
Bullard is a few miles north of the popular attraction known as Love's Lookout. The Texas State Railroad offers a variety of tours year-round from its terminal in Rusk, south of Bullard. While in the Rusk area, you may want to visit Maydelle Country Wines.
Nearby is Moore Farms, a fun place to visit for all ages of the family yearround. The new American Freedom Museum is located just a few blocks from downtown Bullard.
Bullard is also the location of the highly respected Brookhill School. The Bullard Banner News is the local newspaper and provides area-wide news and sports coverage. Several restaurants are located in Bullard, including one of our favorites: Legends Old-Time Burger Cafe.
Also of interest is the Dewberry Plantation, dating to 1854. This historic home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and registered as a Texas State Historical Landmark.
South of Bullard near Jacksonville is the Cherokee Trace Drive Thru Safari, a wildlife park that is home to an amazing variety of wildlife. See over a dozen exotic and endangered species that thrive in an open habitat similar to their native territory. At your own pace, enjoy a self-guided drive through the hills and open savannahs of this 300-acre preserve.
Just north of Bullard is the City of Tyler, which has a wide range of places to see year-round, plus seasonal events such as the Tyler Azalea Trail in March and the Tyler Rose Festival in October.
For more information, contact the Bullard Chamber of Commerce.
History
of Tyler and Smith County at The Handbook of Texas Online
National
Trust for Historic Preservation
Past
Glimpses of Tyler...by Robert Reed
Bonner-Whitaker-McClendon
House Historic Estate
Smith
County Historical Society
Historic
Tyler, Inc.
Heart
of Tyler Main Street Program
Historic US80
National
Register of Historic Places - Smith County Sites
Smith
County History (RootsWeb)
Tyler
History (City of Tyler)
Camp
Ford Historical Association
Preservation
Texas
Texas Historical
Commission
Texas
Downtown Association
Texas Association
of Museums
Texas State
Preservation Board
East
Texas Historical Association
Camp Fannin
