Hideaway is a largely residential city and gated community in Smith County, Texas, within the Tyler metropolitan area. The city recorded a population of 3,201 at the 2020 census. Hideaway is unusual among Texas municipalities in that it functions primarily as a private, gated lake community rather than a traditional town, with private security and a volunteer fire department serving its residents. The community's history reaches back to land that was part of a large plantation owned by Richard B. Hubbard, a former Texas governor. In 1967, developer James Fair purchased the land and developed it as a planned community named Hide-A-Way Lake, building around a private lake that remains the centerpiece of the community today. The lake and its surrounding amenities shape daily life, with boating, fishing, and community activities centered on the water. Hideaway's residential character is defined by its gated entrance, lakefront and golf-course homes, and a population that skews toward retirees seeking a secure, recreation-oriented setting. The community's planned, self-contained nature distinguishes it from the more traditional towns of East Texas, and its residents value the combination of privacy, amenities, and a relaxed lake lifestyle. The gated character and private amenities create a self-contained environment in which residents spend much of their time within its boundaries. The lake, golf course, and community organizations anchor social life, and the volunteer fire department and private security reflect the community's distinctive municipal structure. Hideaway's origins as a lakeside retreat have shaped its present-day identity as a residential enclave. Public education is provided by the school districts serving the surrounding Smith County area, with Tyler and the nearby town of Lindale providing services. Today Hideaway functions as a distinct, lake-centered community that offers a quiet, amenity-rich lifestyle within the broader Tyler region, combining the appeal of a private retreat with the convenience of a regional city nearby.