Timeline of Wichita Falls, Texas

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Wichita Falls, Texas, USA.

19th century

• 1879 - Barwise family settles in area.
• 1880 - Population: 433.
• 1881 - First United Methodist Church built.
• 1882 - Fort Worth and Denver City railroad begins operating.
• 1883 - First Baptist Church founded.
• 1886 - Drought begins.
• 1887 - Wichita Weekly Times newspaper begins publication.
• 1889
• Town of Wichita Falls incorporated.
• Otis T. Bacon becomes mayor.
• 1890 - Population: 1,978.
• 1896 - "Lynching of two bank robbers."
• 1900
• Ladies Library Association organized.
• Lake Wichita created near town.

20th century

• 1909 - Electric streetcar begins operating.
• 1910
• U.S. military Call Field (airfield) begins operating near town.
• Union Station built.
• Gem Theatre (cinema) in business.
• Population: 8,200.
• 1911 - Electra oil field begins operating in vicinity of town.
• 1912 - Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company plant in business.
• 1913 - Palace Theatre in business.
• 1917 - Drought begins.
• 1918
• Kemp Public Library opens.
• Burkburnett oil field discovered near Wichita Falls; oil boom begins.
• 1920
• Burnett Street Bridge and Temple Israel synagogue built.
• Population: 40,079.
• 1922
• Wichita Falls Junior College established.
• Women's "Manuscript Club" organized.
• 1924 - Lake Kemp and Lake Diversion created in vicinity of town.
• 1927 - Scott Avenue Bridge and Municipal Auditorium built.
• 1928 - "Airline passenger service" begins.
• 1930 - May 11: Dust storm.
• 1932 - Town/county 50th anniversary observed.
• 1933 - Wichita Gardens Homestead Colony for urban poor created (approximate date).
• 1937
• Scott Avenue Overpass built.
• Parking meters introduced.
• 1938
• KWFT radio begins broadcasting.
• Wichita Falls Day Nursery built.
• Kamay oil discovered near Wichita Falls.
• 1941 - U.S. military Sheppard Field begins operating.
• 1947 - Lake Kickapoo created in vicinity of Wichita Falls.
• 1948 - U.S. military Sheppard Air Force Base active.
• 1950
• Midwestern University active.
• Population: 68,042.
• 1952 - Grant Drive-In cinema in business.
• 1953 - KAUZ-TV and KFDX-TV (television) begin broadcasting.
• 1960 - Population: 101,724.
• 1963 - Wichita Falls Ballet Theatre founded.
• 1964
• April 3: Tornado.
• Gates Rubber Company plant in business.
• 1966
• Wichita Falls joins the Nortex Regional Planning Commission.
• Lake Arrowhead created in vicinity of Wichita Falls.
• 1969 - Wilson Memorial Parkway dedicated.
• 1970
• School's Memorial Stadium opens.
• Board of Commerce and Industry active.
• 1978 - Wichita Falls Transit System begins operating.
• 1979 - April 10: 1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak.
• 1982 - Wichita Falls Area Food Bank established.
• 1986 - Artificial waterfall built at Lucy Park.
• 1987 - Times Record News in publication.
• 1995 - Mac Thornberry becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 13th congressional district.
• 1999 - City website online (approximate date).

21st century

• 2010
• Glenn Barham becomes mayor.
• Population: 104,553.
• Racially-motivated shooting spree kills one and injures four others, before the suspect committed suicide.

See also

• Wichita Falls history
• List of mayors of Wichita Falls, Texas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wichita County, Texas
• Timelines of other cities in the North Texas area of Texas: Arlington, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Garland, Irving, Plano

References

Bibliography

• circa 1926?
• Jonnie R. Morgan, The History of Wichita Falls (Wichita Falls, 1931)

External links

• Items related to Wichita Falls, Texas, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America)
• Wichita County Historical Commission