Timeline of Corpus Christi, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Corpus Christi, Texas, USA.
Prior to 19th century
- 1519 - Spaniard Alonso Alvarez de Pineda travels to bay on day of religious Feast of Corpus Christi.[1]
19th century
- 1821
- 1828
- Known as the Old Indian Trading Grounds.
- Manuel de Mier y Terán toured through Mexico's province of Texas. Terán noted that some officials favored Corpus Christi as a port, referring to the area on the bay since there was no settlement called Corpus Christi at the time.[2]
- 1829 - Traders are known to have landed on the coast on the Corpus Christi Bay. No civilization is apparent to traders.[2]
- 1836
- Texas gains independence from Mexico
- The Old Indian Trading Grounds become part of the Republic of Texas although the area was claimed by both Texas and Mexico.
- 1839 - Henry Kinney sets up trading post (also known as "Kinney's Ranch").[3]
- 1840
- On January 17 the unrecognized country of the Republic of the Rio Grande claimed the area south of the Nueces River which included Kinney's Ranch.
- On November 6 the Republic of the Rio Grande collapsed.
- Possession of the area returns to the Republic of Texas while Mexico still claimed the area as its own.
- 1845
- August: Kinney's Ranch becomes a major U.S. military outpost under command of Zachary Taylor.[3][4]
- December 29: Kinney's Ranch becomes part of the United States of America after annexation of the Republic of Texas.
- 1846
- March: U.S. military troops depart.[3]
- Town becomes seat of newly created Nueces County.[1]
- 1847 - Town renamed "Corpus Christi" ("something more definite for a postmark on letters.")[3]
- 1852
- September 9: Corpus Christi incorporated.
- Residents elect city council and mayor, Benjamin F. Neal, who served from 1852 to 1855.[5]
- 1860 - Population: 175.[6]
- 1861 - Corpus Christi becomes part of the Confederate States of America.
- 1862 - August: Town besieged by U.S. forces.[3]
- 1865 - Confederate States of America collapse and possession returns to the United States of America.
- 1870 - Population: 2,140.[6]
- 1875 - Conflict between "local settlers and Mexicans."[3]
- 1876 - A city charter was adopted.[5]
- 1883 - Corpus Christi Caller newspaper begins publication.[7]
- 1890 - Population: 4,387.[6]
20th century
- 1910 - Population: 8,222.[6]
- 1911 - Corpus Christi Times newspaper begins publication.[7]
- 1912 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi established.[8]
- 1914
- County courthouse constructed.[1]
- August 1: Rotary Club of Corpus Christi chartered, the 125th club of Rotary International. Rotary was instrumental in the early development of Corpus Christi, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Port.
- 1919 - September: Hurricane occurs.[3]
- 1926
- September: Port of Corpus Christi opens.[3]
- Intracoastal Waterway opens.[1]
- 1927 - Corpus Christi Public Library established.[9]
- 1928 - Grande Theatre built.[10]
- 1929
- League of United Latin American Citizens founded.[11]
- Corpus Christi Caller-Times newspaper in publication.[1]
- 1930
- 1935 - Del Mar College founded.[1]
- 1937 - KRIS radio begins broadcasting.[12]
- 1940
- 1941
- March 12: U.S. military Naval Air Station Corpus Christi commissioned.
- "Sea wall" built.[1]
- 1947 - University of Corpus Christi founded.
- 1950
- North Padre Island Causeway opens.
- Population: 108,287.[6]
- 1951 - Osage Drive-In cinema in business.[10]
- 1956 - KRIS-TV and KZTV (television) begin broadcasting.[13]
- 1957
- Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History established.[14]
- Astor Restaurant established
- 1959 - Harbor Bridge opens.[1]
- 1960 - Corpus Christi International Airport opens.[1]
- 1968
- Frances Farenthold elected to Texas House of Representatives from the 45th district.[15]
- Padre Island National Seashore dedicated near city.[1]
- 1970
- August 3–4: Hurricane Celia occurs.[16]
- Population: 204,525.[6]
- 1972 - Art Museum of South Texas established.[1]
- 1980 - August: Hurricane Allen occurs.[1]
- 1981 - Sunrise Mall in business.
- 1983
- "Selena Quintanilla Pérez of Corpus Christi wins the Tejano Music Award."[15]
- Solomon Porfirio Ortiz becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 27th congressional district.[17]
- 1985 - Port of Corpus Christi designated a foreign trade zone by U.S. Department of Commerce.[18]
- 1989 - Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi active.
- 1990
- Texas State Aquarium opens.[19]
- Greyhound Race Track in business.[1]
- 1991 - USS Lexington Museum established.[14]
- 1995 - March 31: Pop singer Selena shot and killed.[20]
- 1998 - City website online.[21][22]
- 2000 - Population: 277,454.[6]
21st century
- 2003 - Corpus Christi designated an All-America City.
- 2004 - December 24: Snowstorm occurs.[16]
- 2007 - Senor Jaime's erected a 12 ft Rooster which is now a city monument.[23]
- 2010
- 2011 - Blake Farenthold becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 27th congressional district.[26]
See also
- History of Corpus Christi, Texas
- List of mayors of Corpus Christi, Texas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Nueces County, Texas
- Timelines of other cities in the South Texas area of Texas: Brownsville, Laredo, McAllen, San Antonio
