Timeline of Wichita Falls, Texas

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Wichita Falls, Texas, USA.

19th century

 * 1879 - Barwise family settles in area.
 * 1880 - Population: 433.
 * 1881 - First United Methodist Church built.
 * 1882 - Fort Worth and Denver City railroad begins operating.
 * 1883 - First Baptist Church founded.
 * 1886 - Drought begins.
 * 1887 - Wichita Weekly Times newspaper begins publication.
 * 1889
 * Town of Wichita Falls incorporated.
 * Otis T. Bacon becomes mayor.
 * 1890 - Population: 1,978.
 * 1896 - "Lynching of two bank robbers."
 * 1900
 * Ladies Library Association organized.
 * Lake Wichita created near town.

20th century



 * 1909 - Electric streetcar begins operating.
 * 1910
 * U.S. military Call Field (airfield) begins operating near town.
 * Union Station built.
 * Gem Theatre (cinema) in business.
 * Population: 8,200.
 * 1911 - Electra oil field begins operating in vicinity of town.
 * 1912 - Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company plant in business.
 * 1913 - Palace Theatre in business.
 * 1917 - Drought begins.
 * 1918
 * Kemp Public Library opens.
 * Burkburnett oil field discovered near Wichita Falls; oil boom begins.
 * 1920
 * Burnett Street Bridge and Temple Israel synagogue built.
 * Population: 40,079.
 * 1922
 * Wichita Falls Junior College established.
 * Women's "Manuscript Club" organized.
 * 1924 - Lake Kemp and Lake Diversion created in vicinity of town.
 * 1927 - Scott Avenue Bridge and Municipal Auditorium built.
 * 1928 - "Airline passenger service" begins.
 * 1930 - May 11: Dust storm.
 * 1932 - Town/county 50th anniversary observed.
 * 1933 - Wichita Gardens Homestead Colony for urban poor created (approximate date).
 * 1937
 * Scott Avenue Overpass built.
 * Parking meters introduced.
 * 1938
 * KWFT radio begins broadcasting.
 * Wichita Falls Day Nursery built.
 * Kamay oil discovered near Wichita Falls.
 * 1941 - U.S. military Sheppard Field begins operating.
 * 1947 - Lake Kickapoo created in vicinity of Wichita Falls.
 * 1948 - U.S. military Sheppard Air Force Base active.
 * 1950
 * Midwestern University active.
 * Population: 68,042.
 * 1952 - Grant Drive-In cinema in business.
 * 1953 - KAUZ-TV and KFDX-TV (television) begin broadcasting.
 * 1960 - Population: 101,724.
 * 1963 - Wichita Falls Ballet Theatre founded.
 * 1964
 * April 3: Tornado.
 * Gates Rubber Company plant in business.
 * 1966
 * Wichita Falls joins the Nortex Regional Planning Commission.
 * Lake Arrowhead created in vicinity of Wichita Falls.
 * 1969 - Wilson Memorial Parkway dedicated.
 * 1970
 * School's Memorial Stadium opens.
 * Board of Commerce and Industry active.
 * 1978 - Wichita Falls Transit System begins operating.
 * 1979 - April 10: 1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak.
 * 1982 - Wichita Falls Area Food Bank established.
 * 1986 - Artificial waterfall built at Lucy Park.
 * 1987 - Times Record News in publication.
 * 1995 - Mac Thornberry becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 13th congressional district.
 * 1999 - City website online (approximate date).

21st century

 * 2010
 * Glenn Barham becomes mayor.
 * Population: 104,553.
 * Racially-motivated shooting spree kills one and injures four others, before the suspect committed suicide.