Tyler, the county seat of Smith County, is known as the "Rose Capital of the World." The sandy soil and lush climate help it to produce more than one-third of the garden rose bushes in the U.S. Tyler offers all the amenities of an urban center without the congestion. Forbes/Milken Institute 96 ranked Tyler number 3 nationally in its "Best Small Places for Businesses and Careers" survey. The health care facilities make it the regional medical cent of East Texas. State-of-the-art treatment is available in all major medical specialties including heart, lung, cancer and transplants. The consistently mild weather (average of 245 days of sunshine) offers an opportunity to enjoy the outdoor activities. There are three major lakes within twenty minutes of the city, three private country clubs, five public golf courses and twenty five public parks and playgrounds. Caldwell Zoo is the largest, privately endowed zoo in the nation and draws attention internationally. There are three colleges (Tyler Junior College, University of Texas at Tyler, and Texas College). A fine public library, a planetarium, an art museum, several civic theaters, as well as a symphony orchestra Dallas/Fort Worth offers within a two and one-half hour drive the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars and Six Flags Over Texas, as well as Broadway musicals, art museums and metropolitan shopping. There are a large number of churches, both denominational and non denominational as well as several synagogues in the area. Several major industries are located in Tyler: Trane Co., Tyler Pipe Industries, Carrier Air Conditioning, Kelly-Springfield Tire, La Gloria Oil & Gas, and Brookshire Grocery Co., to name a few. Tyler has a sales tax, no income tax, and property taxes are lower than the national average. Tyler is a blend of the old and the new--historic brick streets, turn-of-the century homes as well as blossoming subdivisions, gated communities, and abundant growth.