# Timeline of Corpus Christi, Texas

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Corpus Christi, Texas, USA.

## Prior to 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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* 1519 - Spaniard Alonso Alvarez de Pineda travels to bay on day of religious Feast of Corpus Christi.

## 19th century

* 1821
** Mexico gains independence from Spain
** The Old Indian Trading Grounds become part of Mexico.
* 1828
** Known as the Old Indian Trading Grounds.
** Manuel de Mier y Terán toured through Mexico's province of Texas. Terán noted that some officials favored Corpus Christi as a port, referring to the area on the bay since there was no settlement called Corpus Christi at the time.
* 1829 - Traders are known to have landed on the coast on the Corpus Christi Bay. No civilization is apparent to traders.
* 1836
** Texas gains independence from Mexico
** The Old Indian Trading Grounds become part of the Republic of Texas although the area was claimed by both Texas and Mexico.
* 1839 - Henry Kinney sets up trading post (also known as "Kinney's Ranch").
* 1840
** On January 17 the unrecognized country of the Republic of the Rio Grande claimed the area south of the Nueces River which included Kinney's Ranch.
** On November 6 the Republic of the Rio Grande collapsed.
** Possession of the area returns to the Republic of Texas while Mexico still claimed the area as its own.
* 1845
** August: Kinney's Ranch becomes a major U.S. military outpost under command of Zachary Taylor.
** December 29: Kinney's Ranch becomes part of the United States of America after annexation of the Republic of Texas.
* 1846
** March: U.S. military troops depart.
** Town becomes seat of newly created Nueces County.
* 1847 - Town renamed "Corpus Christi" ("something more definite for a postmark on letters.")
* 1852
** September 9: Corpus Christi incorporated.
** Residents elect city council and mayor, Benjamin F. Neal, who served from 1852 to 1855.
* 1860 - Population: 175.
* 1861 - Corpus Christi becomes part of the Confederate States of America.
* 1862 - August: Town besieged by U.S. forces.
* 1865 - Confederate States of America collapse and possession returns to the United States of America.
* 1870 - Population: 2,140.
* 1875 - Conflict between "local settlers and Mexicans."
* 1876 - A city charter was adopted.
* 1883 - Corpus Christi Caller newspaper begins publication.
* 1890 - Population: 4,387.

## 20th century

* 1910 - Population: 8,222.
* 1911 - Corpus Christi Times newspaper begins publication.
* 1912 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi established.
* 1914
** County courthouse constructed.
** August 1: Rotary Club of Corpus Christi chartered, the 125th club of Rotary International. Rotary was instrumental in the early development of Corpus Christi, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Port.
* 1919 - September: Hurricane occurs.
* 1926
** September: Port of Corpus Christi opens.
** Intracoastal Waterway opens.
* 1927 - Corpus Christi Public Library established.
* 1928 - Grande Theatre built.
* 1929
** League of United Latin American Citizens founded.
** Corpus Christi Caller-Times newspaper in publication.
* 1930
** Oil discovered in vicinity of Corpus Christi.
** Population: 27,741.
* 1935 - Del Mar College founded.
* 1937 - KRIS radio begins broadcasting.
* 1940
** Beach Theater in business.
** Population: 57,301.
* 1941
** March 12: U.S. military Naval Air Station Corpus Christi commissioned.
** "Sea wall" built.
* 1947 - University of Corpus Christi founded.
* 1950
** North Padre Island Causeway opens.
** Population: 108,287.
* 1951 - Osage Drive-In cinema in business.
* 1956 - KRIS-TV and KZTV (television) begin broadcasting.
* 1957
** Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History established.
** Astor Restaurant established
* 1959 - Harbor Bridge opens.
* 1960 - Corpus Christi International Airport opens.
* 1968
** Frances Farenthold elected to Texas House of Representatives from the 45th district.
** Padre Island National Seashore dedicated near city.
* 1970
** August 3–4: Hurricane Celia occurs.
** Population: 204,525.
* 1972 - Art Museum of South Texas established.
* 1980 - August: Hurricane Allen occurs.
* 1981 - Sunrise Mall in business.
* 1983
** "Selena Quintanilla Pérez of Corpus Christi wins the Tejano Music Award."
** Solomon Porfirio Ortiz becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 27th congressional district.
* 1985 - Port of Corpus Christi designated a foreign trade zone by U.S. Department of Commerce.
* 1989 - Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi active.
* 1990
** Texas State Aquarium opens.
** Greyhound Race Track in business.
* 1991 - USS Lexington Museum established.
* 1995 - March 31: Pop singer Selena shot and killed.
* 1998 - City website online.
* 2000 - Population: 277,454.

## 21st century

* 2003 - Corpus Christi designated an All-America City.
* 2004 - December 24: Snowstorm occurs.
* 2007 - Senor Jaime's erected a 12 ft Rooster which is now a city monument.
* 2010
** Only a Handful releases the Corpus Christi theme song "I'm from Corpus"
** Population: 305,215.
* 2011 - Blake Farenthold becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 27th congressional district.