# Timeline of Wichita Falls, Texas

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Wichita Falls, Texas, USA.

## 19th century

Part of a series on the :
History of Texas :
Timeline :
| Pre-Columbian Texas | |
| Early Spanish explorations | 1519–1543 |
| French Texas | 1684–1689 |
| Spanish Texas | 1690–1821 |
| Mexican Texas | 1821–1836 |
| Republic of Texas | 1836–1845 |
| Statehood | 1845–1860 |
| Civil War Era | 1861–1865 |
| Reconstruction | 1865–1899 |
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* 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.