Whitehouse, Texas
Tyler's next-door neighbor on Highway 110
Whitehouse is a city in Smith County, Texas, in East Texas, about 10 miles southeast of Tyler as the crow flies, with a population of about 9,781.
Median home $253,800 · Median rent $1,458/mo · Household income $99,458/yr Cost of living →
Updated October 2026 · Population: U.S. Census Bureau estimate for July 1, 2024. Land area (5.5 sq mi) and coordinates: U.S. Census Bureau. · Whitehouse on Wikipedia
Coming up near Whitehouse
All events →- Nov11REEL East Texas Film Festival
Kilgore · ~24 mi · Nov 11 – Nov 14
- Nov14Heritage Syrup Festival
Henderson · ~25 mi · Sat, Nov 14
- Apr16East Texas Gusher Days
Gladewater · ~27 mi · Apr 16 – Apr 17
- Jun12Tomato Fest
Jacksonville · ~18 mi · Sat, Jun 12
- Jul22The Great Texas Balloon Race
Longview · ~34 mi · Jul 22 – Jul 25
Dates confirmed on each organizer's site. Check the link before you drive.
Whitehouse from our research
What we've verified about Whitehouse, one line per topic. Each links to the full page and its sources.
- History
- A Smith County farm community settled in the 1830s–40s, named for a whitewashed building by the railroad, that grew into a thriving Tyler suburb and Patrick Mahomes's hometown. Details →
- Dining
- 24 verified places to eat and drink; most common: Coffee, Sweets & Bakery · Burgers & American · Mexican & Tex-Mex; 1 has a full bar. Details → Source: Texas Comptroller sales-tax permit records, checked place by place
- Schools
- 57 public schools within 12 miles, across 11 districts and charters, mainly Tyler ISD, Whitehouse ISD and Cumberland Academy. Details → Source: Texas Education Agency AskTED directory — open campuses, enrollment as of Oct 2025
- Utilities
- A deregulated electricity market on the Oncor grid where you choose your provider, plus Atmos gas, city/WSC water, and Optimum internet in Smith County. Details →
- Outdoors
- Nearest state parks: Tyler (18 mi), Martin Creek Lake (38 mi), Purtis Creek (46 mi). Nearest lakes: Lake Tyler (5 mi), Lake Palestine (16 mi). Details → Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
- Contractors
- 9 licensed plumbers, 19 licensed HVAC contractors and 14 licensed electricians serve Whitehouse. Details → Source: TSBPE and TDLR license records, checked business by business
Whitehouse City Limits
The official city boundary and the major highways through Whitehouse.
Major roads: Loop 49 · State Hwy 110
Boundary & roads: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line).
People hear "Whitehouse, Texas" and picture a one-stoplight town. The name doesn't exactly scream metropolis. But the 2020 census counted 8,257 people here. That's up from 842 in 1960, 4,018 in 1990 and 7,660 in 2010, according to the Handbook of Texas. The Handbook places Whitehouse at Farm Road 346 and State Highway 110, six miles southeast of Tyler in southeastern Smith County. By road it's about 10 miles, or 15 minutes, to downtown Tyler, and about the same distance south to Troup. The town's roots are in the railroad. The International-Great Northern made shipping practical by the early 1870s, and a post office opened in 1873. The Handbook says the name is said to come from a whitewashed building near the tracks that served as a school, a church and a place for business meetings. Steam locomotives stopped there for water. Whitehouse didn't incorporate until March 16, 1953.
From Farm Town to Tyler Suburb
According to the Handbook of Texas, settlers arrived after 1836. By 1850, area farmers were growing cotton, tomatoes, peaches, watermelons and vegetables. Whitehouse Baptist Church was organized in 1869, and the Whitehouse Mercantile Corporation was established in 1913. The town peaked at about 500 people during the East Texas oil boom of the 1930s, then fell back to 300 by 1940.
The big growth came later, as Tyler spread south. The population passed 4,000 by 1990 and 8,000 by 2020. Today the Whitehouse Independent School District serves the town, and most of Whitehouse's story now runs through Tyler's orbit.
Lake Tyler Next Door
The Handbook puts Lake Tyler two miles east of town. It's really two connected lakes on Mud and Prairie creeks. Texas Parks & Wildlife lists Lake Tyler West at 2,224 acres (impounded in 1949) and Lake Tyler East at 2,276 acres (impounded in 1966). It's one of the reasons living in Whitehouse doesn't feel like living in a subdivision of Tyler.
Home of the Wildcats and Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a former Whitehouse Wildcat, as KLTV puts it. He had a standout career at Whitehouse High School. In May 2025 he was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2025. KLTV has also reported on his foundation's work with kids in Whitehouse.
FAQ: Whitehouse, Texas
Smith County. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 place-by-county list places all of Whitehouse in Smith County.
The Handbook of Texas puts it six miles southeast of Tyler as the crow flies. By road it's about 10 miles to downtown Tyler, roughly 15 minutes, via State Highway 110.
About 108 miles by road, roughly two hours of driving.
The 2020 census counted 8,257 residents, up from 7,660 in 2010 and 5,346 in 2000.
Yes. He played at Whitehouse High School before going on to the Kansas City Chiefs, and he was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 2025.
Sources
- Handbook of Texas — Whitehouse, TX
- Wikipedia — Whitehouse, Texas (2020 census, citing Census Bureau)
- TPWD — Lake Tyler
- KLTV — Mahomes continues to build legacy in Whitehouse (Jan 2020)
- FOX34 (Gray) — Patrick Mahomes to enter Texas High School Football Hall of Fame (May 9 2025)
- OSRM public router — drive distances/times
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Whitehouse in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Moving to East Texas: What You Need to Know
Thinking about moving to East Texas? A fact-checked guide to healthcare, schools, getting around, weather, and daily life in Tyler, Jacksonville, and the towns around them.
Read Guide →Things to Do in East Texas
What to do in East Texas, checked against official sources: Tyler's Rose Garden and Caldwell Zoo, Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas State Railroad, state parks, museums and festivals.
Read Guide →Cost of Living in East Texas
What it costs to live in East Texas, using Census figures: home values and rents in Tyler, Jacksonville and Athens compared with Texas and the big metros, plus taxes, utilities, healthcare and driving.
Read Guide →Retiring in East Texas: Why Retirees Love It Here
Retiring in East Texas: Tyler's trauma-designated hospitals, Texas 65+ school-tax exemptions, lake towns like Gun Barrel City and Hideaway, and sourced drive times and weather.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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