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Timeline of San Jose, California facts for kids

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The following is a timeline of the history of San Jose, California, United States.

Prior to the 19th century

19th century

  • 1803 – San Jose de Guadalupe church built.
  • 1822 – Mexicans in power.
  • 1840 – Population: 750 (approximate).
  • 1846 – Town occupied by U.S. forces.
  • 1849 – December: Town becomes capital of the new state of California.
  • 1850
    • City chartered.
    • Josiah Belden becomes mayor.
    • San Francisco-San Jose stagecoach begins operating.
  • 1851
    • San Jose Weekly Visitor newspaper begins publication.
    • College of Notre Dame established.
  • 1852 – San Jose Foundry in business.
  • 1853 – Hook and Ladder Company No.1 organized.
  • 1855 – San Jose Telegraph newspaper begins publication.
  • 1856 – Young Men's Literary Association organized.
  • 1857 – Minn's Evening School established.
  • 1861 – San Jose Daily Mercury newspaper begins publication.
  • 1864 – San Francisco-San Jose Railway in operation.
  • 1865 – St. Joseph High School established.
  • 1866 – Santa Clara Argus newspaper begins publication.
  • 1867 – San Jose YMCA established.
  • 1868 – St. Joseph's Church built (approximate date).
  • 1870
    • California State Normal School relocated to San Jose.
    • Chinatown fire.
    • Population: 9,089; county 26,246.
  • 1871 – University of the Pacific relocated to San Jose vicinity.
  • 1875 – San Jose Law Library, San Jose Fruit Packing Company, and California Pioneers of Santa Clara County established.
  • 1878 – Home of Benevolence founded.
  • 1879 – Daily Morning Times begins publication.
  • 1886 – Board of Trade organized.
  • 1888 – Lick Observatory established atop Mount Hamilton.
  • 1889
    • City Hall built.
    • O'Connor Hospital and Hotel Vendome established.
  • 1890 – Population: 18,060.
  • 1891 – Heald College established.
  • 1892 – First Unitarian Church of San Jose built.
  • 1892 - We and Our Neighbors Society (women's club) founded.
  • 1894 – Associated Charities of San Jose established.
  • 1895 – Post Office built.
  • 1897 – Good Government League organized.

20th century

1900s-1950s

  • 1900 – Population: 21,500.
  • 1902 – Naglee Park development begins (approximate date).
  • 1903
    • Grauman's Theatre and San Jose Public Library building open.
    • Bean Spray Company relocates to San Jose.
  • 1905 – Balloon, dirigible, and aeroplane exhibitions.
  • 1906 – April 18: San Francisco earthquake.
  • 1909
    • KQW radio begins broadcasting.
    • Santa Clara Valley Fruit Growers Association organized.
  • 1911 – East San Jose becomes part of San Jose.
  • 1921 – San Jose Junior College founded.
  • 1926 – Bank of Italy Building constructed.
  • 1927 – Fox California Theatre built.
  • 1933
  • 1936 – Willow Glen becomes part of San Jose.
  • 1937 – San Jose Civic Orchestra formed.
  • 1943 – IBM west coast headquarters established.
  • 1949
    • San Jose Municipal Airport begins operating.
    • Burbank Theatre, Garden Theatre, and Mayfair cinema open.
    • Historical Museum of San José established.
  • 1950s – Community Service Organization activity begins in East San Jose.
  • 1952 – Population: 95,280.
  • 1957 – San Jose Peace & Justice Center founded.
  • 1959 – Santa Clara County United Fund established.

1960s-1990s

  • 1960 – Population: 204,196.
  • 1961
  • 1964 – San Jose Century 21 cinema built.
  • 1967 - Junior League of San Jose and Center for Employment Training established.
  • 1968 – Alviso becomes part of city.
  • 1969 – Century Theatre cinema opens.
  • 1970
    • Regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission established.
    • Population: 447,025.
  • 1971
  • 1972 – Food Machinery Corporation headquarters relocates from San Jose to Chicago.
  • 1973 – Willow Glen Neighborhood Association formed.
  • 1974 – Santa Clara County Transportation Agency, San Jose Earthquakes soccer club, and Second Harvest Food Bank established.
  • 1975
  • 1977 – San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles founded.
  • 1980 – Rotary Club of San Jose and San Jose Repertory Theatre founded.
  • 1981 – Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose established.
  • 1982 – Adobe in business.
  • 1983
    • 1983 San Jose School District California bankruptcy
    • Tom McEnery becomes mayor.
  • 1985 – Market Post Tower built.
  • 1986
  • 1987
  • 1988 – Fairmont Plaza built.
  • 1989 – Loma Prieta earthquake.
  • 1990
  • 1991
    • Tathagata Meditation Center, Santa Clara Valley MultiService Center, and Filipino American National Historical Society chapter founded.
    • Susan Hammer becomes mayor.
    • San Jose Sharks begin play.
  • 1992
    • Saba Islamic Center active.
    • Chinmaya Mission San Jose founded.
  • 1993 – Plaza Park renamed Plaza de César Chávez.
  • 1994
    • City government-public computer-enabled communication ("Virtual Valley") in operation.
    • San Jose Clash soccer team formed.
  • 1995
  • 1998
  • 1999 – Ron Gonzales becomes mayor.

21st century

  • 2001
    • Bay Area CyberRays soccer team, and Silicon Valley De-Bug collective established.
    • Mike Honda becomes U.S. representative for California's 15th congressional district.
  • 2002 – Symphony Silicon Valley founded.
  • 2003 – Sobrato Office Tower built.
  • 2005 – San Jose City Hall returned downtown.
  • 2006 – June: Mayor Gonzales arrested.
  • 2007 – Chuck Reed becomes mayor.
  • 2008 – The 88 building constructed.
  • 2010
  • 2011 – October: Occupy San José begins.
  • 2013 – Population: 998,537.
  • 2014
    • Population tops 1,000,000.
    • December: Homeless camp cleared.
  • 2021 – The San Jose shooting occurs, killing ten people including the gunman.
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Timeline of San Jose, California Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.