Our Towns - Tyre
- Ezekiel Crane is recognized as the first non-Indigenous settler of the Town of Tyre, arriving around 1794 as the region was opening to pioneer settlement.
- Dr. James Magee settled in Tyre in 1811 and became one of the area’s most influential early physicians and community leaders. He also served during the War of 1812.
- Thomas W. Roosevelt, a member of the Roosevelt family of New York, settled in Tyre in the early 1800s, worked as a surveyor, and later served as an officer during the War of 1812 before being killed in action near Erie.
- Samuel Messenger was among the earliest religious leaders in the community, helping establish pioneer-era Baptist congregations in Tyre during the early 1800s.
- Jason Smith was the son of pioneer settler Asa Smith and was noted in local histories as one of the town’s oldest lifelong residents. Local accounts credit the Smith family with helping inspire the town’s name, derived from the ancient Mediterranean city of Tyre.
- The Town of Tyre was officially formed in 1829 from portions of the Town of Junius, continuing the region’s early agricultural heritage and settlement growth.
- Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 and became the first national wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River created specifically for migratory bird conservation.
- Located along the Atlantic Flyway, the Montezuma wetlands attract hundreds of species of birds each year, making Tyre one of the Finger Lakes region’s premier birdwatching destinations.
- Before modern transportation routes, the wetlands and waterways surrounding Tyre played an important role in Native American travel and early trade throughout Central New York.
The Town of Tyre traces its roots to the earliest days of settlement in Seneca County and was officially formed from the Town of Junius in 1829. Though modest in population, Tyre has long served as an important crossroads community, shaped by agriculture, transportation, and the natural resources of the surrounding landscape.
Early settlers were drawn to the fertile lands and proximity to the Seneca River and expanding canal systems that connected the region to larger markets throughout New York State. Farming quickly became the backbone of the local economy, with generations of families cultivating crops and raising livestock across Tyre’s rich farmland.
The town’s location also placed it near one of the Finger Lakes region’s most significant natural areas — the vast wetlands that today comprise the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1938 as the first national wildlife refuge in the eastern United States, the refuge became a critical resting and feeding area along the Atlantic Flyway, attracting hundreds of species of migratory birds and wildlife enthusiasts from across the country.
Over time, Tyre evolved from a quiet agricultural community into a destination that blends rural character with modern attractions. The arrival of del Lago Resort & Casino further expanded tourism and entertainment opportunities while maintaining the town’s connection to the natural beauty and open landscapes that define the area today.
According to the 2020 census, the Town of Tyre had a population of 981 residents.
