# Timeline of Oklahoma City

The following is a timeline of the history of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US.

## Prior to 20th century

* 1887
** February: A stop along the newly completed Southern Kansas Railway line was constructed and named "Oklahoma Station."
** December 30: The United States Postal Service established a post office at Oklahoma Station.
* 1889
** April 22: Settlement established on Unassigned Lands of the United States.
** Oklahoma Times, Weekly Oklahoman, and Oklahoma Gazette newspapers begin publication.
* 1890
** Town charted in Oklahoma Territory.
** W.J. Gault becomes mayor.
** Population: 4,151.
* 1896 – January: Statehood convention held.

## 20th century
### 1900s–1940s

* 1901
** Epworth University founded.
** Douglass High School active (approximate date).
* 1902 – Oklahoma Historical Society headquartered in Oklahoma City.
* 1905 – Brock Dry Goods in business.
* 1906 – Oklahoma College for Young Women founded.
* 1907
** Town becomes part of the new U.S. state of Oklahoma.
** Population: 32,452.
** Elmer L. Fulton becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district.
* 1908
** Temple B’nai Israel synagogue built.
** Dick Thompson Morgan becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district.
* 1909 – Colcord Building constructed.
* 1910
** Oklahoma state capital relocated to Oklahoma City from Guthrie.
** Cattlemen's Cafe in business.
** Population: 64,205.
* 1911
** Oklahoma City University established.
** Skirvin Hotel in business.
* 1913 – Board of Health established.
* 1915 – Joseph Bryan Thompson becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
* 1916
** Black Dispatch newspaper begins publication.
** Blackwood David Business College established.
* 1917 – Emanuel Synagogue active.
* 1918 – Cain's Coffee Building constructed.
* 1919
** Lake Overholser reservoir and Oklahoma State Capitol built.
** Aldridge Theater opens (approximate date).
** John W. Harreld becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
* 1920
** WKY radio begins broadcasting.
** Population: 91,295.
* 1921
** Calvary Baptist Church built.
** Fletcher B. Swank becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
* 1922
** Ritz Theater opens.
** Lynching of Jake Brooks Photographs of Jake Brooks's hanged body are sent to Congress, hoping for passage of the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill.
* 1923 – KOCY radio begins broadcasting.
* 1925 – Oklahoma City Blue Devils jazz band active.
* 1927 – New Quayle Methodist Episcopal Church built.
* 1928 – Oil discovered.
* 1929 – Ulysses S. Stone becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
* 1930 – Population: 185,389.
* 1931
** Union Station opens.
** First National Bank Building constructed.
** Fletcher Swank becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district again.
* 1934
** Taft Stadium built.
** Santa Fe Depot opens.
* 1935 – Joshua B. Lee becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
* 1937
** Daily Law Journal Record newspaper headquartered in city.
** Robert P. Hill becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district, succeeded by Gomer Griffith Smith.
* 1939 – Mike Monroney becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
* 1940 – Population: 204,424.
* 1941 – U.S. military Tinker Air Force Base established.
* 1946 – Urban League established.
* 1948 – Milk Bottle Grocery in business.
* 1949 – WKY-TV (television) begins broadcasting.

### 1950s–1990s

* 1950
** Circle Drive-In cinema opens.
** Population: 243,504.
* 1951 – John Jarman becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
* 1953 – KWTV (television) begins broadcasting.
* 1954 – Griffin Television Tower erected.
* 1955 – Cowboy Hall of Fame and Museum established.
* 1958 – Oklahoma City sit-ins led by Clara Luper for racial desegregation begin.
* 1960
** Penn Square Mall in business.
** Population: 324,253.
* 1962 – Oklahoma City 89ers baseball team formed.
* 1964
** July: Oklahoma City sonic boom tests begin.
** Founders Tower built.
* 1965
** Central Business District redevelopment plan ("Pei plan") adopted.
** Community Action Agency of Oklahoma City established.
* 1966
** Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority established.
** Citizens Bank Tower built.
* 1968 – Harn Homestead and 1889ers Museum founded.
* 1969
** August 19: Sanitation labor strike begins.
** Oklahoma City Community Foundation established.
* 1970
** Oklahoma Theater Center built.
** Population: 366,481.
* 1971
** University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center active.
** Patience Latting becomes mayor.
** Chase Tower built.
* 1972
** Premiere of Western film J. W. Coop.
** Myriad Convention Center opens.
** Henry Overholser historic site established.
* 1974 – Underground pedestrian concourse built.
* 1976 – 45th Infantry Division Museum established.
* 1977
** Murrah Federal Building constructed.
** Mickey Edwards becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
* 1979 – Black Chronicle newspaper begins publication.
* 1980
** Oklahoma City Food Bank organized.
** Population: 403,213.
* 1983 – Andy Coats becomes mayor.
* 1984 – Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation established.
* 1987
** Grusendorf v. City of Oklahoma City smoking-related lawsuit decided.
** Ron Norick becomes mayor.
* 1988
** Oklahoma City Pride begins.
** Myriad Botanical Gardens Tropical Conservatory opens.
* 1990 – Population: 444,719.
* 1993 – Ernest Istook becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
* 1994 – Grateful Bean Cafe opens.
* 1995
** April 19: Oklahoma City bombing.
** City website online.
* 1999 – Kirk Humphreys becomes mayor.
* 2000 – Population: 506,132.

## 21st century

* 2001 – Oklahoma City National Memorial opens.
* 2002
** Ford Center stadium opens.
** Oklahoma City Lightning women's football team formed.
* 2003 – Guy Liebmann becomes mayor.
* 2004 – Mick Cornett becomes mayor.
* 2005 – Will Rogers World Airport's new terminal opens.
* 2006 – Douglass Mid-High School built.
* 2007 – Mary Fallin becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
* 2008 – Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team active.
* 2010
** Oklahoma City Barons ice hockey team active.
** Population: 579,999.
* 2011 – James Lankford becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
* 2012 – Devon Tower built.
* 2014 – Municipal Archives established.
* 2015 – Steve Russell becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.