Timeline of Wichita, Kansas facts for kids

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Wichita, Kansas, USA.

Prior to 20th century

• 1864 - Jesse Chisholm establishes a trading post
• 1865 - Treaty of Little Arkansas
• 1868 - James R. Mead established another trading post
• 1870 - City of Wichita incorporated in Sedgwick County, Kansas.
• 1872
  • Santa Fe Railway built.
  • The Wichita Eagle and The Wichita Daily Beacon newspapers begins publication.
• 1880 - Wichita annexed the Delano community on the west side of the river, which then became locally known as "West Wichita".
• 1885 - Topeka State Journal newspaper in publication.
• 1887
  • Women enfranchised.
  • Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita established.
• 1888
  • Wichita Children's Home founded
  • All Hallows Academy established.
• 1889 - Albert Hyde invents Mentholatum
• 1890 - Sedgwick County Courthouse built.
• 1891 - Thursday Afternoon Cooking Club founded.
• 1892 - Fairmount Institute opens, later becomes Wichita State University.
• 1898 - Garfield University established, later becomes Friends University.
• 1900 - December 27: Temperance activist "Carry Nation smashes the Hotel Carey saloon."

20th century

• 1905 - Waco Elementary School built.
• 1909
  • City commission form of government adopted.
  • Wichita Union Stockyards Exchange Building constructed.
• 1910 - First Presbyterian Church and Municipal Forum built.
• 1911
  • Henry's (clothiers) in business.
  • Central Intermediate School built.
• 1912 - Wesley Medical Center established.
• 1915 - Wichita City Library built.
• 1917 - Office of city manager established.
• 1918
  • Fountain installed at Union Station Plaza.
  • Exposition Building constructed.
• 1919 - The Negro Star newspaper in publication.
• 1920 - Population: 72,217.
• 1921 - White Castle (restaurant) in business.
• 1922 - Orpheum Theatre and Miller Theater open.
• 1924 - Wichita East High School built.
• 1926 - Municipal University of Wichita established, later becomes Wichita State University.
• 1927 - Cessna Aircraft Company in business.
• 1929
  • Wichita Municipal Airport construction begins, later becomes McConnell Air Force Base.
  • Wichita North High School built.
• 1931 - McKnight memorial statue erected.
• 1932
  • Beech Aircraft Corp. in business.
  • United States Post Office and Federal Building constructed.
  • Minisa Bridge dedicated.
• 1934 - Lawrence Athletic Field opened, later becomes Lawrence–Dumont Stadium.
• 1935 - Wichita Art Museum built.
• 1950 - Population: 168,279.
• 1952 - Old Cowtown Museum established.
• 1953
  • Wichita Mid-Continent Airport built, later becomes Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.
  • US military Wichita Air Force Base in use.
  • Field House at University of Wichita built, later becomes Charles Koch Arena.
• 1954
  • Wichita Audubon Society founded.
  • Autopilot invented by David D. Blanton
• 1958
  • July: Dockum Drug Store sit-in for civil rights.
  • Pizza Hut in business.
• 1964 - Wichita State University established.
• 1965 - The Wichita State University Shockers men's basketball team makes its first ever appearance in the Final Four.
• 1967 - Central Wichita Public Library building dedicated.[1]
• 1969
  • Century II opened, after razing blocks of warehouse district south of Douglas Street.
  • Cessna Stadium expansion of Veteran Field at Wichita State University built.
  • 250 Douglas Place hi-rise built.
• 1970 - Population: 276,554.
• 1971 - Sedgwick County Zoo founded.
• 1972 - Kansas African American Museum founded.
• 1975 - Towne East Square shopping mall in business.
• 1976 - Mid-America All-Indian Center established.
• 1977 - Kansas Coliseum opens.
• 1979 - April 15: Herman Hill riot.
• 1980 - Towne West Square shopping mall in business.
• 1984 - Kansas Food Bank established.[2]
• 1987 - Botanica, The Wichita Gardens open.
• 1989 - Epic Center hi-rise built.
• 1990 - Population: 304,011
• 1991 - The Wichita-Andover, KS F5 tornado strikes
• 1992 - Wichita Thunder ice hockey team formed.
• 1993 - Southwind Sangha Sōtō Zen Association founded.
• 1997 - City website online (approximate date).

21st century

• 2006 - Spirit AeroSystems Inc. in business.
• 2010
  • Intrust Bank Arena opens.
  • Population: 382,368.
• 2011 - Mike Pompeo becomes U.S. representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district.
• 2012 - Tornado outbreak of April 13–16, 2012.
• 2013
  • March: The Wichita State University Shockers men's basketball team makes its second run in school history to the Final Four.
  • December 13: Alleged 2013 Wichita bombing plot thwarted.
• 2015 - Jeff Longwell becomes mayor.
• 2018 - Mike Pompeo becomes United States Secretary of State; he remains in this position until 2021.
• 2020
  • Brandon Whipple becomes mayor.
  • Population: 397,532 at the 2020 United States Census