Timeline of Toledo, Ohio facts for kids

This article is a timeline of the history of Toledo, Ohio, a city in Ohio, USA. A timeline helps us see important events in order, like a story told year by year. Let's explore how Toledo grew and changed over time!

Toledo's Early Days: Before 1900

John Berdan, Toledo's first mayor

The Lucas County Courthouse

• 1835
  • The Toledo Blade newspaper started publishing.
  • Lucas County, Ohio was created.
• 1836 - The Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad began running trains.
• 1837
  • Toledo officially became a city.
  • John Berdan became the first mayor.
  • The Toledo Fire Department was started to help keep the city safe from fires.
• 1845 - The Miami and Erie Canal opened, helping transport goods.
• 1850 - Toledo's population was 3,829 people.
• 1851 - The Toledo Medical Association was formed for doctors.
• 1862 - The Cherry Street bridge was built.
• 1864 - The Toledo Library Association was created.
• 1869 - The Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway started operating.
• 1870
  • The Toledo Society of Natural Sciences was established.
  • The population grew to 31,584 people.
• 1872 - The Toledo University of Arts and Trades was founded.
• 1873
  • St. Ursula Academy, a school, was founded.
  • The Toledo Public Library opened its doors.
• 1875 - The Milburn Wagon Company began making wagons.
• 1877 - A railroad strike happened.
• 1880 - The population reached 50,137 people.
• 1888 - The Libbey Glass Company started making glass products.
• 1894 - Tiedtke's grocery store opened.
• 1896 - The Lucas County Court House was built.
• 1898 - The First Church of Christ, Scientist was built.
• 1900
  • The Toledo Zoological Gardens (Toledo Zoo) was established.
  • The population was 131,822 people.

Toledo in the 20th Century

• 1901
  • The Toledo Museum of Art was founded.
  • The Toledo Scale Company started its business.
• 1902 - The Toledo Automobile Club was established for car owners.
• 1907 - Isaac R. Sherwood became a U.S. representative for Ohio's 9th congressional district.
• 1910
  • The Willys-Overland automobile plant was built.
  • The Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo was established.
• 1918 - The Municipal Hospital opened.
• 1920 - Toledo's population grew to 243,164 people.
• 1929 - The Hillcrest Hotel was built.
• 1930 - The Indiana Avenue YMCA and the Toledo Hospital building opened.
• 1931
  • The High Level Bridge was built.
  • Toledo became a sister city with Toledo, Spain.
• 1932 - The National City Bank Building was constructed.
• 1934 - April 12: The Auto-Lite strike began.
• 1936 - The Brand Whitlock Homes were built.
• 1937 - Point Place became a part of the city.
• 1938 - Owens Corning Corporation set up its main office in Toledo.
• 1950 - The population reached 303,616 people.
• 1953 - WGTE-TV began broadcasting television programs.
• 1954
  • An "Islamic Center" was built.
  • The Miracle Mile Drive-In cinema opened.
• 1955 - The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and Downtown Toledo Associates were established.
• 1959 - The Toledo Opera was founded.
• 1964 - The Toledo Botanical Garden was established.
• 1966 - Reynolds Corners became a part of the city.
• 1968 - The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments was established.
• 1969
  • July 4: The Ohio Fireworks Derecho, a strong windstorm, occurred.
  • The Masonic Auditorium and Fiberglas Tower were built.
• 1970 - The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library was established.
• 1971 - Franklin Park Mall opened for shoppers.
• 1978 - The Western Lake Erie Historical Society was founded.
• 1982 - The One SeaGate tall building and the DiSalle Government Center were built.
• 1983 - Marcy Kaptur became a U.S. representative for Ohio's 9th congressional district.
• 1984 - The Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank was established to help people.
• 1985 - The Franklin Park Mall cinema opened.
• 1987 - The SeaGate Convention Centre opened.
• 1990 - The population was 332,943 people.
• 1992 - The Toledo Natural Food Cooperative opened.
• 1994 - Carty Finkbeiner became mayor.
• 1997 - Toledo's Attic, a website about the city's history, was launched.
• 1998 - The city's official website went online around this time.

Toledo in the 21st Century

• 2002
  • Fifth Third Field, a baseball stadium, opened.
  • Jack Ford became mayor.
• 2005 - October 15: The 2005 Toledo riot occurred.
• 2006 - Carty Finkbeiner became mayor again.
• 2009 - The Huntington Center, an arena, opened.
• 2010
  • Michael Bell became mayor.
  • The population was 287,208 people.
• 2014 - D. Michael Collins became mayor.
• 2015 - February: Mayor Collins passed away, and Paula Hicks-Hudson became acting mayor.
• 2018 - Wade Kapszukiewicz became mayor.