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

 * 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.