# Timeline of Wichita, Kansas

"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, Kansas, USA.

## Prior to 20th century

* 1864 - Jesse Chisholm establishes a trading post
* 1865 - Treaty of Little Arkansas
* 1868 - James R. Mead established another trading post
* 1870 - City of Wichita incorporated in Sedgwick County, Kansas.
* 1872
** Santa Fe Railway built.
** The Wichita Eagle and The Wichita Daily Beacon newspapers begins publication.
* 1880 - Wichita annexed the Delano community on the west side of the river, which then became locally known as "West Wichita".
* 1885 - Topeka State Journal newspaper in publication.
* 1887
** Women enfranchised.
** Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita established.
* 1888
** Wichita Children's Home founded
** All Hallows Academy established.
* 1889 - Albert Hyde invents Mentholatum
* 1890 - Sedgwick County Courthouse built.
* 1891 - Thursday Afternoon Cooking Club founded.
* 1892 - Fairmount Institute opens, later becomes Wichita State University.
* 1898 - Garfield University established, later becomes Friends University.
* 1900 - December 27: Temperance activist "Carry Nation smashes the Hotel Carey saloon."

## 20th century

* 1905 - Waco Elementary School built.
* 1909
** City commission form of government adopted.
** Wichita Union Stockyards Exchange Building constructed.
* 1910 - First Presbyterian Church and Municipal Forum built.
* 1911
** Henry's (clothiers) in business.
** Central Intermediate School built.
* 1912 - Wesley Medical Center established.
* 1915 - Wichita City Library built.
* 1917 - Office of city manager established.
* 1918
** Fountain installed at Union Station Plaza.
** Exposition Building constructed.
* 1919 - The Negro Star newspaper in publication.
* 1920 - Population: 72,217.
* 1921 - White Castle (restaurant) in business.
* 1922 - Orpheum Theatre and Miller Theater open.
* 1924 - Wichita East High School built.
* 1926 - Municipal University of Wichita established, later becomes Wichita State University.
* 1927 - Cessna Aircraft Company in business.
* 1929
** Wichita Municipal Airport construction begins, later becomes McConnell Air Force Base.
** Wichita North High School built.
* 1931 - McKnight memorial statue erected.
* 1932
** Beech Aircraft Corp. in business.
** United States Post Office and Federal Building constructed.
** Minisa Bridge dedicated.
* 1934 - Lawrence Athletic Field opened, later becomes Lawrence–Dumont Stadium.
* 1935 - Wichita Art Museum built.
* 1950 - Population: 168,279.
* 1952 - Old Cowtown Museum established.
* 1953
** Wichita Mid-Continent Airport built, later becomes Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.
** US military Wichita Air Force Base in use.
** Field House at University of Wichita built, later becomes Charles Koch Arena.
* 1954
** Wichita Audubon Society founded.
** Autopilot invented by David D. Blanton
* 1958
** July: Dockum Drug Store sit-in for civil rights.
** Pizza Hut in business.
* 1964 - Wichita State University established.
* 1965 - The Wichita State University Shockers men's basketball team makes its first ever appearance in the Final Four.
* 1967 - Central Wichita Public Library building dedicated.
* 1969
** Century II opened, after razing blocks of warehouse district south of Douglas Street.
** Cessna Stadium expansion of Veteran Field at Wichita State University built.
** 250 Douglas Place hi-rise built.
* 1970 - Population: 276,554.
* 1971 - Sedgwick County Zoo founded.
* 1972 - Kansas African American Museum founded.
* 1975 - Towne East Square shopping mall in business.
* 1976 - Mid-America All-Indian Center established.
* 1977 - Kansas Coliseum opens.
* 1979 - April 15: Herman Hill riot.
* 1980 - Towne West Square shopping mall in business.
* 1984 - Kansas Food Bank established.
* 1987 - Botanica, The Wichita Gardens open.
* 1989 - Epic Center hi-rise built.
* 1990 - Population: 304,011
* 1991 - The Wichita-Andover, KS F5 tornado strikes
* 1992 - Wichita Thunder ice hockey team formed.
* 1993 - Southwind Sangha Sōtō Zen Association founded.
* 1997 - City website online (approximate date).

## 21st century

* 2006 - Spirit AeroSystems Inc. in business.
* 2009 - May 31: Assassination of George Tiller, abortion doctor.
* 2010
** Intrust Bank Arena opens.
** Population: 382,368.
* 2011 - Mike Pompeo becomes U.S. representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district.
* 2012 - Tornado outbreak of April 13–16, 2012.
* 2013
** March: The Wichita State University Shockers men's basketball team makes its second run in school history to the Final Four.
** December 13: Alleged 2013 Wichita bombing plot thwarted.
* 2015 - Jeff Longwell becomes mayor.
* 2018 - Mike Pompeo becomes United States Secretary of State; he remains in this position until 2021.
* 2020
** Brandon Whipple becomes mayor.
** Population: 397,532 at the 2020 United States Census