Timeline of Cheyenne, Wyoming facts for kids

Welcome to Cheyenne, Wyoming! This page shares a timeline of important events in the history of Cheyenne, a cool city in the state of Wyoming, USA. You'll learn how it grew from a small railroad camp to the capital city it is today.

Cheyenne's Early Days: The 1800s

• 1867
  • In July, the Union Pacific Railroad picked a spot called Crow Creek Crossing to be their main office for the mountain area. This spot soon became the city of Cheyenne.
  • In August, H. M. Hook became Cheyenne's first mayor.
  • Fort D.A. Russell, an important military base, was built close by.
  • The Cheyenne Leader newspaper started printing.
  • In November, the railroad began running trains.
• 1868 - Cheyenne officially became a city with its own rules, thanks to the Dakota Territory government.
• 1869
  • The Wyoming Territory court held its first meeting in May.
  • Another newspaper, the Wyoming Tribune, started up.
  • The city had a fire.
  • The Eagle Hotel opened for business.
  • About 2,305 people lived in Cheyenne.
• 1870
  • The original map of Cheyenne was officially signed and recorded in September.
• 1872
  • The Stock Association of Laramie County was created to help ranchers.
  • A new Court House was built.
• 1873 - The Wyoming Territory government held a meeting in November.
• 1874 - A City Hall was built for the local government.
• 1876
  • The Cheyenne and Black Hills Stage line started carrying people and goods.
  • Cheyenne's population grew to about 3,250 people.
• 1881 - Joseph M. Carey became the mayor.
• 1882 - An Opera House was built for shows and performances.
• 1884 - The William Sturgis House, a large home, was built.
• 1885 - Francis E. Warren became the mayor.
• 1886
  • A library opened on Carey Avenue.
  • St. Mark's Episcopal Church was built.
  • The Cheyenne and Northern Railway began operating.
• 1887 - The Cheyenne Depot, a big train station, was built.
• 1888 - The Nagle Warren Mansion, another large home, was built.
• 1890
  • On July 10, Cheyenne became the capital of the new state of Wyoming.
  • The Wyoming State Capitol building and the First United Methodist Church were built.
  • The population grew to 11,690 people.
• 1892 - The Tivoli Building was constructed.
• 1895 - The Wyoming State Museum was created to show off Wyoming's history.
• 1896 - The Cheyenne Business College was started.
• 1897 - The first Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration began. This is a famous rodeo and Western festival.
• 1900 - The population reached 14,087.

Cheyenne in the 1900s

• 1902 - The Laramie County Library opened its doors.
• 1903 - In May, President Theodore Roosevelt visited Cheyenne.
• 1904 - The first Wyoming Governor's Mansion was built.
• 1905 - The population was 13,656.
• 1908 - The Atlas Theatre opened for movies and shows.
• 1909 - St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral was officially dedicated.
• 1910 - The population was 11,320.
• 1914 - The city changed its government to a commissioner form, where a group of elected officials runs the city.
• 1920 - The Lincoln Highway, an important road, was paved near Cheyenne.
• 1928 - The High Plains Horticulture Research Station was set up to study plants.
• 1929 - The Boeing Terminal was built at the Cheyenne Airport.
• 1930 - The Cheyenne Little Theatre Players, a local theater group, was founded.
• 1937 - The Wyoming Governmental Research Association, which studies government, set up its main office in Cheyenne.
• Late 1940s - The Union Pacific Big Boy, a huge steam locomotive, was used in Cheyenne to pull freight trains over Sherman Hill to Laramie, Wyoming.
• 1952 - The Cheyenne Genealogy Society was formed to help people research their family history.
• 1960 - Cheyenne East High School was established.
• 1968 - Laramie County Community College was established, offering higher education.
• 1972 - The city government changed to a mayor-council system, with a mayor and a city council.
• 1976 - A new Wyoming Governor's Mansion was built.
• 1977
  • The Cheyenne Community Solar Greenhouse opened.
  • The Historic Governor's Mansion became a museum.
• 1978 - The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum was founded.
• 1979 - On July 16, a tornado hit Cheyenne.
• 1980 - The population reached 47,283.
• 1981 - The Frontier Mall opened for shopping.
• 1993 - The Cheyenne Depot Museum was founded to tell the story of the train station.
• 1999 - The city's website went online around this time.
• 2000 - The Taco John's Events Center opened for concerts and events.

Cheyenne in the 2000s

• 2009
  • Rick Kaysen became mayor.
  • Cheyenne South High School opened.
• 2010
  • The Cheyenne Capidolls roller derby league was formed.
  • The population grew to 59,466.
• 2011
  • The Cheyenne Warriors football team was formed.
  • The Arts Alliance of Cheyenne was created to support local artists.
• 2012 - The National Center for Atmospheric Research-Wyoming Supercomputing Center began operating, doing important computer research.
• 2013 - Arts Cheyenne was organized around this time to promote arts in the city.