Timeline of Cleveland

This article is a timeline of the history of the city of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.



18th century

 * 1796 – Moses Cleaveland and survey party arrive at the location that would later become Cleveland.
 * 1797 – Lorenzo Carter, a prominent early settler, arrives.

19th century

 * 1800 – Trumbull County created, encompassing Cleveland.
 * 1803 – Ohio becomes the 17th State admitted to the Union.
 * 1805 – Geauga County created, encompassing Cleveland.
 * 1808 – Lorenzo Carter builds the Zephyr, the first ship to be launched in Cleveland.
 * 1810 – Cuyahoga County organized; Cleveland selected as county seat.
 * 1813 – Oliver Hazard Perry wins the Battle of Lake Erie at Put-in-Bay in the War of 1812.
 * 1814
 * Cleveland receives its charter as a village.
 * Newburgh Township created.
 * 1815
 * Alfred Kelley is elected the first president of the village of Cleveland.
 * Euclid Avenue commissioned, subsequently known as Millionaires' Row.
 * 1818 – The Cleveland Gazette and Commercial Register, Cleveland's first newspaper is published.
 * 1822 – a free bridge is opened across the Cuyahoga River.
 * 1827 – opening of the Ohio canal as far as Akron.
 * 1830 – population: 1,076.
 * 1831
 * The Cleveland Advertiser alters the spelling of the community's name to Cleveland.
 * James A. Garfield, 20th United States President, born in Orange Township.
 * 1832 – Ohio and Erie Canal completed to the Ohio River.
 * 1836
 * Cleveland and Ohio City are incorporated as cities.
 * John W. Willey is elected the first mayor of Cleveland.
 * Bridge War between Cleveland and Ohio City takes place.
 * 1837 – Cleveland City Council votes to create City Hospital, now MetroHealth.
 * 1840 – population: 6,071.
 * 1842 – The Plain Dealer begins publication.
 * 1844 – Samuel Starkweather elected mayor.
 * 1845 – City Bank of Cleveland (forerunner of National City Corp.) founded.
 * 1847
 * The Weddell House opens.
 * The first telegraph line (from Cleveland to Pittsburgh) is completed.
 * 1848 – Colored National Convention held in city.
 * 1850
 * William Case elected mayor.
 * Population: 17,034.
 * 1851 – Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad completed.
 * 1852 – The Aliened American newspaper begins publication.
 * 1853
 * The Cleveland Theater opens.
 * National Women's Rights Convention held.
 * Woodland Cemetery established.
 * 1854
 * Ohio City annexed to Cleveland.
 * William B. Castle elected mayor.
 * The Cleveland Leader begins publication.
 * 1860
 * Perry Monument on Public Square dedicated.
 * Population: 43,417.
 * 1861
 * Abraham Lincoln visits Cleveland.
 * The American Civil War begins.
 * 1865
 * The American Civil War ends.
 * Thousands of Clevelanders mourn the death of Lincoln.
 * 1866 – Cleveland Police Department established.
 * 1869
 * Cleveland Public Library established.
 * Lake View Cemetery opens.
 * 1870
 * Standard Oil Company in business.
 * Population: 92,829.
 * 1873
 * Cleveland Bar Association established.
 * Newburgh annexed to Cleveland.
 * 1874 – First Woman's National Temperance Convention held in Cleveland, establishing the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
 * 1875 – Euclid Avenue Opera House opens.
 * 1876
 * Charles F. Brush patents an electric generator.
 * Riverside Cemetery Chapel & Riverside Cemetery Gatehouse built.
 * 1878 – Penny Press, predecessor to the Cleveland Press, begins publication.
 * 1880
 * James A. Garfield, from Cleveland, elected 20th President of the United States.
 * Case School of Applied Science established.
 * Population: 160,146.
 * 1881
 * Garfield lies in state on Public Square after being assassinated, July 2.
 * Adelbert Hall built.
 * 1882
 * Western Reserve College moves to Cleveland.
 * Cleveland School of Art established.
 * 1883 – John H. Farley elected mayor.
 * 1884
 * First electric streetcar run in the city.
 * Cleveland Electric Light Co. formed.
 * 1887 – Michelson–Morley experiment conducted at Western Reserve University.
 * 1890
 * The Arcade opens.
 * Garfield Monument dedicated in Lake View Cemetery.
 * Population: 261,353.
 * 1894
 * May Day Riots of 1894
 * Soldiers and Sailors Monument dedicated.
 * 1895 – Robert E. McKisson elected mayor.
 * 1896 – Cleveland celebrates its centennial.
 * 1897 – Bohemian National Hall built.
 * 1899
 * Cleveland streetcar strike.
 * John H. Farley re-elected mayor.
 * 1900 – population: 381,768.

1900s–1940s

 * 1901
 * Tom L. Johnson elected mayor.
 * The Cleveland Blues (predecessor to the Cleveland Guardians) are established as one of the first teams in the new American League.
 * Cleveland worker and avowed anarchist, Leon Czolgosz assassinates U.S. President William McKinley in Buffalo, New York.
 * 1905
 * The Cleveland News begins publication
 * Glenville and South Brooklyn annexed to Cleveland.
 * 1908
 * Collinwood School Fire
 * More Streetcar strikes but less violent and unsuccessful.
 * 1909
 * Tom L. Johnson loses mayoral race to Herman C. Baehr.
 * Corlett Village annexed to Cleveland.
 * 1910
 * Collinwood annexed to Cleveland.
 * Cleveland Railway Company operated from 1910 to 1942.
 * Population: 560,663.
 * 1911
 * Tom L. Johnson dies.
 * Church of the Covenant established.
 * 1912 – Village of Nottingham annexed to Cleveland.
 * 1913
 * The Great Lakes Storm of 1913 hits Cleveland.
 * Home Rule City Charter approved by Cleveland voters.
 * Cleveland Museum of Art established.
 * Metropolitan Theatre opened.
 * The first Community Chest, "Community Fund", founded in Cleveland.
 * 1914
 * Cleveland chosen as the Fourth District headquarters of the Federal Reserve Bank.
 * Cleveland Municipal Light Plant goes into operation.
 * 1915 – Cleveland Play House and Western Reserve University's School of Applied Social Science established.
 * 1916
 * Cleveland Museum of Art opens.
 * Cleveland City Hall dedicated.
 * 1917 – Cleveland Metroparks organized.
 * 1918
 * Federal Court trial of Eugene V. Debs held in Cleveland.
 * Detroit–Superior Bridge construction completed.
 * 1919
 * May Day Riots of 1919
 * State Prohibition is enacted in Cleveland
 * Voters approve placement of a new railroad terminal on Public Square.
 * 1920
 * Cleveland Institute of Music founded.
 * Cleveland becomes the fifth-largest city in the nation.
 * The Volstead Act and the Eighteenth Amendment become law.
 * Cleveland Indians win the World Series.
 * Cleveland Museum of Natural History established.
 * Population: 796,841.
 * 1921
 * Cleveland Clinic and Playhouse Square established.
 * KeyBank State Theatre built.
 * Mimi Ohio Theatre opened.
 * Hanna Theatre opened.
 * 1922 – demolition for the Terminal Tower site begins
 * 1923
 * Federal Reserve bank building completed.
 * Alcazar Hotel completed.
 * 1924
 * Republican National Convention held in Cleveland.
 * Mayor/Council form of government replaced by City Manager plan.
 * 1925
 * New Public Library building opens.
 * Cleveland Airport (now Hopkins International) opens.
 * University Hospitals incorporated.
 * 1929
 * Cleveland Clinic disaster occurs.
 * National Air Race first held in Cleveland.
 * The Stock Market crashes
 * 1930 – The Tower City Center is dedicated.
 * 1931
 * Severance Hall dedicated.
 * City Manager system reverts to the Mayor/Council form of government.
 * Ray T. Miller elected mayor.
 * 1932 – Hope Memorial Bridge construction completed.
 * 1933
 * Harry L. Davis returns as mayor.
 * Depression-era unemployment peaks in Cleveland: nearly one-third of the city's citizens are out of work.
 * Prohibition is repealed on December 23 – nearly eight months longer than the Eighteenth Amendment.
 * 1935
 * Harold Hitz Burton elected mayor.
 * Eliot Ness becomes Safety Director of Cleveland.
 * 1936 – Republican National Convention held in Cleveland.
 * 1937
 * Cleveland Barons hockey team established.
 * Cleveland Arena opens.
 * Cleveland Rams begin to play professional football.
 * John D. Rockefeller dies.
 * 1938
 * Cleveland Memorial Shoreway opens between East 9th Street and Gordon Park.
 * Clevelander Jesse Owens wins four gold medals at Berlin Olympic Games.
 * Great Lakes Exposition opens.
 * Cleveland Torso Murderer with up to 20 victims.
 * 1939 – Main Avenue Bridge opened.
 * 1940 – NACA, forerunner of NASA, established at the Cleveland airport.
 * 1941
 * Frank Lausche elected mayor.
 * Western Reserve Red Cats win the Sun Bowl, the city's first college football bowl game.
 * 1942 – Cleveland Bomber Plant (now the I-X Center) opens at Municipal Airport.
 * 1944 – Cleveland East Ohio Gas Explosion claims 130 lives.
 * 1945
 * Thomas A. Burke elected mayor.
 * Cleveland Rams win NFL football title then move to Los Angeles.
 * 1946
 * Cleveland Browns are founded and begin play in All-America Football Conference.
 * Cleveland Browns win the All-America Football Conference championship.
 * 1947
 * Operations begin at the lakefront airport.
 * First telecast by WEWS, Ohio's first television station.
 * Eliot Ness runs for mayor of Cleveland but is defeated by incumbent Thomas A. Burke.
 * Cleveland Browns win the All-America Football Conference championship.
 * 1948
 * Cleveland Indians win World Series.
 * Cleveland Browns win the All-America Football Conference championship.
 * 1949
 * Cleveland named an All-America City for first time.
 * Cleveland Browns win the All-America Football Conference championship.

1950s-1990s

 * 1950
 * Cleveland Browns begin play in National Football League.
 * Cleveland Browns win the National Football League championship.
 * 1953 – Anthony J. Celebrezze elected mayor.
 * 1954
 * Last streetcars run.
 * Cleveland Browns win the National Football League championship.
 * 1955
 * Rapid Transit begins operation.
 * Cleveland Browns win the National Football League championship.
 * 1959 – Boddie Recording Company in business.
 * 1960
 * Erieview urban renewal plan unveiled.
 * Final issue of the Cleveland News published.
 * 1961 - Mapp v. Ohio
 * 1962
 * Ralph S. Locher elected mayor.
 * Innerbelt Freeway opens for its full length.
 * 1964
 * Erieview Tower completed.
 * Cleveland State University established.
 * Cleveland Browns win the National Football League championship.
 * 1965 – WVIZ, an educational television station, begins broadcasting.
 * 1966
 * Hough Riots
 * Cuyahoga Community College opens its Metro Campus.
 * 1967
 * Carl B. Stokes elected the first African American mayor of a major American city.
 * Case Western Reserve University established.
 * 1968
 * Glenville Shootout
 * Terry v. Ohio
 * 1969
 * A burning oil slick on the Cuyahoga River attracts national attention regarding pollution.
 * Euclid Beach Park closes.
 * 1970 – Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team organized.
 * 1972 – Cleveland Magazine begins publication.
 * 1973 – Cleveland Barons play their last hockey game.
 * 1974 – Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority established.
 * 1976 – desegregation of the Cleveland Public Schools ordered by U.S. District Judge Frank J. Battisti.
 * 1977 – Dennis Kucinich elected mayor.
 * 1978
 * Cleveland is hit by the Great Blizzard of 1978
 * 1978 recall election
 * December 15, Cleveland becomes the first American city to go into default since the Depression.
 * 1979
 * George Voinovich elected mayor.
 * Greater Cleveland Food Bank established.
 * 1980 – presidential debate between candidates Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan held in Cleveland.
 * 1981
 * Cleveland Public Theatre opened.
 * City Council reduced from 33 to 21 members.
 * Term of office for mayor and council members increased from two to four years.
 * 1982
 * Ground broken for the Sohio (BP) Building on Public Square.
 * The Cleveland Press ceases publication.
 * Cleveland named an All-America City for second time.
 * 1984 – Cleveland named an All-America City for third time.
 * 1986
 * Cleveland named an All-America City for fourth time.
 * Cleveland selected as site for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
 * 1987 – Cleveland emerges from default.
 * 1988 – Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Case Western Reserve University's Center on Urban Poverty and Social Change established.
 * 1989 – Michael R. White elected mayor.
 * 1991 – Key Tower "topped off" at 947 ft (289 m).
 * 1993 – Cleveland named an All-America City for fifth time.
 * 1995
 * Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opens.
 * Indians win American League championship.
 * Bishop Anthony Pilla is elected to the presidency of USCCB
 * 1996
 * Cleveland celebrates its bicentennial.
 * Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony win a Grammy for "Tha Crossroads"
 * 1997 – Cleveland Indians win the American League pennant and return to the World Series.
 * 1999 – the new Cleveland Browns Stadium opens with the return of the Cleveland Browns.

21st century

 * 2001 – Cleveland Barons are revived.
 * 2002 – Cleveland citizens elect Jane L. Campbell as the first female mayor of Cleveland.
 * 2003 – 2003 North America blackout
 * 2004 – vice-presidential candidates Dick Cheney and John Edwards debate at Case Western Reserve University.
 * 2005 – Frank G. Jackson is the first sitting city councillor to be elected mayor since Stephen Buhrer in 1867.
 * 2006
 * Barons leave Cleveland for the second time.
 * Cleveland, Columbus, and other Ohio cities argue against a bill passed by the Ohio House legislature that will eliminate residency rules.
 * 2007
 * Cleveland is hit with a major winter storm in February, leaving 15 inches of snow.
 * October 20, Cleveland became the first television market in the United States to have all of its local television stations to broadcast in high definition.
 * 2008 – Cuyahoga County federal corruption investigation.
 * 2009
 * The Ohio Supreme Court upholds the 2006 law prohibiting residency requirements.
 * Frank Jackson wins a second term as Mayor of Cleveland.
 * November, Ohio Voters open Ohio to casino gambling and Cleveland will have a casino by 2013.
 * Cleveland is selected by the International Gay Games committee to host the 2014 Gay Games. Cleveland beat out Boston, Washington DC, and Hamburg Germany.
 * 2010 – population: 396,815.
 * 2011 – construction begins on the Medical Mart and new convention center, scheduled to open late 2013.
 * 2013 – Frank Jackson wins a third term as Mayor of Cleveland against Kenneth Lanci.
 * 2014
 * Shooting of Tamir Rice
 * Hosts the international 2014 Gay Games, also known as Gay Games 9
 * 2015 – Chief U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. signs consent decree for the Cleveland Division of Police.
 * 2016
 * Cleveland Cavaliers win the NBA Championship.
 * Lake Erie Monsters win the Calder Cup and then are renamed Cleveland Monsters.
 * Republican National Convention held in Cleveland.
 * The Cleveland Indians face the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series.
 * 2017 – Frank Jackson wins a fourth term as Mayor of Cleveland, becoming the city's longest-serving mayor.
 * 2018 – Cleveland's population begins to flatten as Downtown population increases.
 * 2019
 * The Beacon completed in Downtown Cleveland.
 * Cuyahoga River named "River of the Year" by the American Rivers conservation association.
 * 2020
 * Population: 372,624.
 * The COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio begins when Ohio Governor Mike DeWine reports the earliest cases of the virus to be in Cuyahoga County.
 * George Floyd protests take place in Cleveland and most major U.S. cities.
 * The Lumen tower completed in Downtown Cleveland.
 * Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic host the first 2020 U.S. presidential debate at the Health Education Campus (HEC).
 * 2021
 * 2021 NFL Draft held in Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium.
 * Frank Jackson announces that he will not pursue a fifth term as mayor.
 * The Cleveland Indians assume the name the Cleveland Guardians.
 * Justin Bibb elected mayor.