Timeline of Lexington, Kentucky

18th century

1775 – Lexington founded in the Colony of Virginia.

1776 – Lexington becomes part of the new state of Virginia.

1782

May – Town of Lexington established.

August – Siege of Bryan Station.

1787 – Kentucky Gazette newspaper begins publication.

1789

Lexington Light Infantry organized.

Transylvania Seminary opens.

1784 – Mount Zion Church founded.

1790

Population: 2,000.

First African Baptist Church founded (approximate date).

1792

Lexington becomes part of the new state of Kentucky.

Kentucky legislature begins meeting.

1796

Episcopal church established.

Lexington Library founded.

1797 – Postlethwait's Tavern built.

19th century

1801 – Walnut Hill Presbyterian Church built.

1806

Court House built.

Sign of the Green Tree tavern in business (approximate date).

1808 – The Reporter newspaper begins publication.

1809 – Lexington Jockey Club formed.

1810 - Population: 4,326.

1811 – Giron confectionery in business.

1812 – Juvenile Library organized.

1814 – Hunt House (residence) built.

1816 – Usher's Theater built (approximate date).

1818 – Athenaeum founded.

1820 - Population: 5,279.

1821 – Lafayette Seminary established.

1823 – St. Catherine's Academy for girls established.

1824 – Eastern Lunatic Asylum established.

1826

Kentucky Association formed.

Masonic Hall dedicated.

1830

Lexington and Ohio Railroad established.

Population: 6,026.

1831 – Lexington Observer newspaper begins publication.

1832 – Episcopal Burying Ground established.

1833 – Cholera epidemic.

1835 - Frankfort-Lexington railway begins operating.

1840 - Population: 6,997.

1844 – Market-house built.

1845

Christ Church Episcopal built.

True American anti-slavery newspaper begins publication.

1847 – Licking and Lexington Railroad begins operating.

1848 – Lexington and Frankfort Railroad takes over the former Lexington & Ohio.

1849

Lexington Cemetery established.

Covington and Lexington Railroad begins operating.

1850

Lexington and Danville Railroad begins operating.

Maysville and Lexington Railroad begins operating.

Population: 8,159.

1854 – Sayre School established.

1856 – First African Baptist Church built.

1859 – Kentucky Central railroad begins operating trains to Cincinnati.

1860 – Lexington and Southern Kentucky Railroad begins operating.

1861 – August – Union cavalry arrive.

1863 – Lexington National Cemetery established.

1865

College of the Bible of Transylvania University established.

Kentucky Agricultural and Mechanical College established.

1867 – Cincinnati, Lexington and East Tennessee Railroad begins operating.

1869

Louisville, Cincinnati and Lexington Railroad merges the Lexington & Frankfort with the Louisville & Frankfort.

Elizabethtown, Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad begins operating.

Hamilton College of Transylvania University established.

Cemetery of the Union Benevolent Society No. 2 in use.

1870

Lexington Daily Press begins publication.

Odd Fellows Temple built.

1872 – First Presbyterian Church built.

1873

Smith Business College established.

Trotting Track constructed by Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders Association.

1874 – Lexington Railway Company streetcars in operation.

1876 – Gordon School for boys established.

1877 – Saint Joseph Hospital founded.

1882 – Floral Hall built.

1887 – Opera House opens.

1888 – Kentucky Leader newspaper begins publication.

1892 – Lexington Standard newspaper begins publication.

1894

Woman's Club of Central Kentucky organized.

Central Christian Church built.

1900 – Population: 26,369.

20th century

1905 – Lexington Public Library opens.

1907 – Union Station opens.

1908 – College of Law, State University of Kentucky established.

1910 – Population: 35,099.

1916 – Stoll Field/McLean Stadium opens.

1920 – Population: 41,534.

1922 – Kentucky Theater opens.

1925 – Sesquicentennial.

1926 – Church of the Good Shepherd dedicated.

1930 – Population: 45,736.

1931 – Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center established.

1934 – United States Post Office and Court House built.

1935 – United States Narcotic Farm in operation.

1936 – Keeneland Race Course opens; Ashland Stakes begin.

1938 – Lexington Children's Theatre founded.

1946 – F. W. Woolworth Building constructed.

1949 – Youth Symphony Orchestra active.

1950

Ashland (Henry Clay estate) museum opens.

Memorial Coliseum (University of Kentucky) opens.

Population: 55,534.

1951 – John C. Watts becomes U.S. representative for Kentucky's 6th congressional district.

1955 – Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation organized.

1957 – Waveland museum opens.

1958 – Urban growth boundary enacted.

1960 – Population: 62,810.

1961 – Central Kentucky Philharmonic Society formed.

1969 – Cliff Hagan Stadium opens.

1970 – Population: 108,137.

1972

Blackburn Correctional Complex built.

Lexington Council of the Arts organized.

Transit Authority of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government established.

H. Foster Pettit, former state representative, becomes mayor of Lexington.

1973

Commonwealth Stadium (Kentucky) opens.

Lexington Ballet founded.

1974

City and Fayette County governments consolidated; Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government formed.

Regional Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization established.

U.S. Federal Medical Center prison in operation.

Festival of the Bluegrass begins.

1975 – Lexington Mall built.

1976 – Lexington Center and Rupp Arena open.

1978 – Kentucky Horse Park opens.

1979 – Kincaid Towers built.

1980 – Population: 204,165.

1983 – Lexington Herald-Leader in publication.

1986 – High Security Unit, U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, in operation.

1987 – Lexington Financial Center built.

1990

Lexington Children's Museum opens.

Population: 225,366.

1991 – Arboretum established.

1995 – Aviation Museum of Kentucky incorporated.

1996

City website online.

UK Soccer Complex opens.

1997 - The first shops open in Hamburg Pavilion.

2000 – Population: 260,512.

21st century

2001 – Whitaker Bank Ballpark opens.

2003

The Dame music hall opens.

Lexington History Museum opens.

2004 – Kentucky Horse Park Arboretum established.

2005 – Bluegrass Community and Technical College established.

2009

Boomslang (music festival) begins.

The Alltech Arena opens.

2010

Population: 295,803.

Lexington becomes the first city outside of Europe to host the World Equestrian Games.

2011 – Jim Gray becomes mayor.

The first Harry Dean Stanton film festival held

2012 - The Town Branch Distillery opens.

2013

Andy Barr becomes U.S. representative for Kentucky's 6th congressional district.

Construction of CentrePointe begins.

2014 – Redevelopment of the Fayette National Bank Building begins.

2015 – Keeneland will host the Breeders' Cup for the first time.