Timeline of Wilmington, Delaware facts for kids

This is a timeline showing the history of Wilmington, Delaware, a city in the USA. A timeline helps us see important events in order, from the past to the present.

Early History of Wilmington

• 1638
  • In March, a man named Peter Minuit and his group arrived at a place now called Swedes' Landing. This was part of a Swedish colony known as New Sweden.
  • They built Fort Christina, and the settlement was called Christinaham.
• 1655 - Dutch forces led by Peter Stuyvesant took control of the fort from the Swedes.
• 1664 - The English took power in the area.
• 1682 - The Swedish colony became part of the English Province of Pennsylvania.
• 1698 - The Holy Trinity Church (Old Swedes) was built.
• 1731 - A landowner named Thomas Willing named his property "Willingtown". It was later renamed "Wilmington" around 1739.
• 1739
  • William Shipley became the first burgess (a type of leader) of Wilmington.
  • The shipbuilding industry started around this time.
• 1740 - The First Presbyterian Church was built.
• 1748 - The Wilmington Friends School was started.
• 1777 - On September 11, the Battle of Brandywine was fought near the town during the American Revolutionary War.
• 1785 - The Delaware Gazette newspaper began publishing.
• 1788 - The Wilmington Library Company was founded.
• 1798
  • There was an outbreak of yellow fever.
  • The Town Hall was built.

Wilmington in the 1800s

Map of Wilmington, Delaware, 1874

• 1802 - The DuPont company, which made gunpowder, started its business at Eleutherian Mills near Wilmington.
• 1809 - The area of the Borough of Wilmington grew larger.
• 1814 - The Harmonic Society, a music group, was formed.
• 1824 - The first "public opinion poll" (a survey to see what people think) was taken in Wilmington during the U.S. presidential election.
• 1832
  • Wilmington officially became a city by state law.
  • Richard H. Bayard became the city's first mayor.
• 1835 - The Wilmington Whaling Company was started.
• 1837
  • The Board of Trade and the Wesleyan Female Seminary (a school for girls) were established.
  • The Betts, Pusey & Harlan company, which made railcars, began its business.
• 1838 - The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad started operating, connecting Wilmington to other cities.
• 1840
  • The Democratic Free Press newspaper began publishing.
  • The city's population was 8,367 people.
• 1849 - The Harlan and Hollingsworth company, known for building ships and railcars, was in business.
• 1855 - The Customshouse (a building for collecting taxes on goods) was built.
• 1864
  • A horse-drawn railway began operating in the city.
  • The Historical Society of Delaware made Wilmington its main location.
  • The John Merrick House was built.
• 1868 - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was established.
• 1871 - The Grand Opera House was built.
• 1877 - The Wilmington Club for men was officially started.
• 1880 - The city's population grew to 42,478 people.
• 1881 - The New Castle County Court House was built.
• 1886 - Brandywine Park was created.
• 1889 - Rockford Park and the New Century Club for women were established.
• 1890
  • Delaware Hospital opened.
  • The population reached 61,431 people.
• 1900 - The population was 76,508 people.

Wilmington in the 1900s

• 1905 - The Brandywine Zoo was established.
• 1910 - The population was 87,411 people.
• 1911 - The Majestic Theatre opened.
• 1917 - Rodney Square was created.
• 1919 - Wilmington experienced a period of community challenges.
• 1920 - The population reached 110,168 people.
• 1921 - The city's fire department was established.
• 1922 - Radio stations WDEL and WILM began broadcasting.
• 1923
  • The Wilmington Marine Terminal was built.
  • A monument to Caesar Rodney was placed in Rodney Square.
• 1928 - The Rodney Court apartment building was constructed.
• 1929 - Wilmington Dry Goods, a store, was in business.
• 1930 - The population was 106,597 people.
• 1937 - The Main Post Office was built.
• 1942 - The Crest Theater opened.
• 1950 - The population was 110,356 people.
• 1961 - A very important court case, Burton v. Wilmington Parking Authority, was decided. It helped make sure that everyone has equal protection under the law.
• 1965 - The Wilmington Medical Center was active.
• 1968 - Wilmington experienced another period of community challenges.
• 1981 - A new state law helped many banks move to the Wilmington area, which boosted the city's economy.
• 1991 - A Cinemark movie theater opened.
• 1995 - The MBNA Corporation had its main office in the city.
• 1996 - The city's official website went online around this time.

Wilmington in the 2000s

• 2001 - James M. Baker became the mayor of Wilmington.
• 2013 - Dennis P. Williams became the mayor.