Timeline of Waco, Texas facts for kids

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

19th century

• 1830 - Hueco village sacked by Cherokees.
• 1845 - Anglo Neil McLennan settles in area.
• 1849 - March 1: "First sale of town lots at Waco village."
• 1850
  • Brazos River ferry begins operating.
  • Waco becomes seat of newly established McLennan County, Texas.
• 1851 - Population: 152.
• 1852 - First Street Cemetery established (approximate date).
• 1854 - Waco Era newspaper begins publication.
• 1856 - Town of Waco incorporated.
• 1858 - Southern Democrat newspaper begins publication.
• 1861 - Waco University founded.
• 1865 - Waco Examiner newspaper begins publication.
• 1866 - New Hope Baptist Church established.
• 1870
  • Waco Suspension Bridge opens.
  • Waco Tap Railroad begins operating.
  • Population: 3,008.
• 1871 - First Presbyterian Church built.
• 1872 - Waco and Northwestern Railroad begins operating.
• 1873
  • Fletcher Cemetery established.
  • Sanger Brothers shop in business.
• 1877 - Paul Quinn College relocated to Waco from Austin.
• 1878 - Oakwood Cemetery established.
• 1879 - St. Paul's Episcopal Church rebuilt.
• 1880 - Population: 7,295.
• 1881 - Rodeph Sholom Synagogue dedicated.
• 1884
  • Garland Opera House in business.
  • McClelland Opera House in business (approximate date).
• 1885
  • Slayden-Kirksey Woolen Mill in business.
  • Baylor University relocated to Waco from Independence.
  • Flavored beverage "Dr. Pepper first mixed at Old Corner Drug in Waco."
• 1889 - "Hot artesian water...discovered beneath the city."
• 1890
  • C.C. McCulloch elected mayor.
  • Population: 14,445.
• 1892 - Geyser Ice Company in business.
• 1894 - Cotton Palace Exposition begins.
• 1895
  • AddRan College relocated to Waco from Thorp Spring.
  • Floral Society formed.
• 1897 - Waco Times-Herald newspaper in publication.
• 1898 - April 1: "Brann-Davis shooting."
• 1899 - Public library established.

20th century

• 1900 - Population: 20,686.
• 1901 - McLennan County Courthouse built.
• 1906 - Dr. Pepper bottling plant built.
• 1910 - Brazos Valley Cotton Oil mill in business.
• 1911
  • Amicable Life Insurance Co. building constructed.
  • Farmers' Improvement Bank founded.
  • Rex Theatre in business.
• 1912 - Raleigh Hotel built.
• 1914
  • Hippodrome Theatre opens.
  • Kestner’s store in business.
• 1916 - May 15: Lynching of Jesse Washington.
• 1919 - Elite Cafe in business.
• 1920 - Population: 38,500.
• 1923 - July 30: Execution of Roy Mitchell.
• 1929 - Alamo Plaza Motor Hotel chain in business.
• 1930 - Population: 52,848.
• 1931 - St. Francis Catholic Church built.
• 1936 - September: Flood.
• 1937 - Blue Triangle Young Women's Christian Association formed.
• 1945 - U.S. Veterans Administration Medical Center built.
• 1950 - Population: 84,706.
• 1953 - May: 1953 Waco tornado outbreak.
• 1955 - Cameron Park Zoo established.
• 1964 - Urban renewal project begins.
• 1965 - Flood control dam built on Brazos River basin.
• 1967 - Historic Waco Foundation established.[1]
• 1974 - Oscar De Conge becomes mayor.
• 1980 - Population: 101,261.
• 1982 - July: 1982 Lake Waco murders.
• 1993 - February 28 - April 19: Siege of religious Mount Carmel Center near Waco.

21st century

• 2010 - Population: city 124,805; megaregion 19,728,244.
• 2011 - Bill Flores becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 17th congressional district.
• 2012 - Malcolm P. Duncan Jr. becomes mayor.
• 2015 - May 17: 2015 Waco shootout.
• 2016 - Kyle Deaver becomes mayor.