Smith County vs. Menard County
Rose Capital to River Fort
East Texas charm meets Hill Country grit in this pairing. Smith County’s Tyler anchors a fast-growing regional hub where healthcare, higher education, and East Texas tradition intertwine among rose gardens and hospital corridors. Menard County, two hundred miles southwest, keeps time with the San Saba River; small ranches, frontier forts, and family cafés linking past and present. Both counties prove that Texas strength lies in balance: the energy of towns that bloom and the steadiness of communities that endure.
Smith County (Population Approx. 240,000)
Tyler’s reputation as the “Rose Capital” sits alongside a strong medical sector, UT Tyler, and a growing small-business scene. Neighborhoods balance East Texas tradition with new arrivals, while leaders juggle mobility, workforce housing, and downtown revitalization. Festivals, gardens, and live music stitch the county together across generations.
Menard County (Population Approx. 2,000)
Menard and surrounding communities live at the pace of the San Saba. Fort McKavett State Historic Site keeps frontier history tangible; ranching and hunting anchor the local economy. Distance and drought challenge families, but schools, churches, and the café on the square keep people connected. Here, a handshake still means something.
Why It Matters
Urban amenities and rural simplicity are both part of Texas’s future. From hospital corridors to river crossings, Smith and Menard show that communities thrive when neighbors and leaders listen to one another.
Why Forward
Forward believes Texas’s strength lies in empowering both regional hubs and quiet ranch counties.
In Smith County, open primaries and Ranked Choice Voting would promote leaders who focus on transportation, attainable housing, and workforce pipelines; from classrooms to clinics; rather than partisan brawls.
In Menard County, the same tools would protect rural representation and give ranchers, teachers, and small-business owners a fair voice in policy that often overlooks small places. Ranked Choice Voting ensures every ballot matters, even in tight local races.
Forward’s mission: to build a culture of trust, transparency, and teamwork; fits both counties. From rose beds to river bends, Texans deserve systems that elevate local problem-solvers and respect every community’s voice.
Did You Know…
Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the nation’s largest public rose garden.
Fort McKavett is one of the best-preserved 19th-century Texas frontier posts.
Why Texans Love Living Here
Smith County residents love a blend of East Texas hospitality and opportunity: gardens, gigs, and good schools. In Menard County, people love river mornings, starry nights, and neighbors who show up before you ask.
Key Events That Bring Neighbors Together
Texas Rose Festival (Tyler) — A century-old celebration of East Texas heritage with parades, pageantry, and community pride.
Fort McKavett Living History / Special Events (Menard Co.) — Interpreters, drills, and frontier crafts bring the 1800s back to life.
People & Tech Created This
The profiles and shared challenges were gathered from Texas Forward Party supporters and written using ChatGPT and Gemini models to combine verified public data, official county/state sources, and general knowledge from Texas historical and government records, including:
