Timeline of Tulsa, Oklahoma

1800s

1826 - Creek Indians began to settle town of Tulasi after their expulsion from the Southeastern United States.

1861 - Battle of Chusto-Talasah - Civil War skirmish to north of Tulsa

1878 - First post office established at Perryman ranch.

1882 - Atlantic & Pacific Railroad tracks laid from Vinita.

1884 - Presbyterian church founded a mission day school that became the first public school after Tulsa was incorporated.

1893 - Indian Republican began publication as first newspaper.

1887 - Tulsa founded.

1896 - Town incorporated.

1898 -

Edward E. Calkins becomes first mayor.

Population reported as 1,100.

1899 -

First mass said at Holy Family Church.

Robert H. Hall built the first telephone system in Tulsa, serving 80 subscribers.

1900s-1940s

1900

Commercial Club of Tulsa formed.

Population: 1,390.

1901 - Oil discovered at Red Fork, near Tulsa, starting oil boom.

1902 - Tulsa chartered as a city.

1903 - Telephone system sold to Indian Territory Telephone Company.

1904

Tulsa annexed North Tulsa.

First Tulsa bridge built across Arkansas River.

Pumping plant built to deliver Arkansas River water to consumers via piping system.

Indian Territory Telephone Company bought by Pioneer Company

1905

Tulsa World newspaper begins publication.

Oil discovered at Glenn Pool near Tulsa.

First two public schools built.

1906

Tulsa Hospital opens (would close after WWI).

Trolley begins operating.

Tulsa High School built.

Oklahoma Natural Gas Company, now named OneOK, founded.

1907

Tulsa becomes part of the new U.S. state of Oklahoma, and county seat of newly formed Tulsa County.

Henry Kendall College moved from Muskogee to Tulsa.

Population: 7,298.

1908 - Commission form of government adopted.

1909

West Tulsa becomes part of Tulsa.

Tulsa buys land that would become Woodward Park.

1910

Tulsa County Court House built.

Population: 18,182.

Exchange National Bank founded after failure of Farmers' National Bank.

Texaco builds first oil refinery in West Tulsa.

Oil & Gas Journal headquartered in Tulsa.

Area of city: 3.5 square miles.

Hotel Brady annex and Tulsa Hotel were built.

1913

Booker T. Washington High School established.

Joshua Cosden builds second oil refinery in West Tulsa.

1914

Tulsa Convention Hall built.

Holy Family Cathedral dedicated.

Temple Israel congregation founded.

1915

Oklahoma Hospital established.

Chamber of Commerce active.

1916 - Carnegie library opens, forerunner of the Tulsa Public Library system.

1918

Morningside Hospital opened.

Cosden Building constructed, considered first "skyscraper" in city.

1920

Henry Kendall College becomes University of Tulsa.

Tulsa Tribune newspaper in publication.

Population: 72,075.

1921

May 31 - June 1: Tulsa race riot devastated Greenwood.

All Souls Unitarian Church founded.

1922

Tulsa Little Theater founded.

Atlas Life Building constructed.

1923

First International Petroleum Exposition.

Major flood of Arkansas River heavily damages Tulsa water purification plant and causes its relocation to a site near Mohawk Park.

1924

Spavinaw Dam built.

Tulsa Community Fund established.

St. Johns Hospital opened.

Southwestern Bell Telephone Company constructs Main Dial System Building.

1925 - Mayo Hotel built.

1926 - Tulsa State Fair grounds in use.

1927

Red Fork becomes part of Tulsa.

Tulsa Civic Symphony active.

Goodwill Industries of Tulsa incorporated.

Tulsa Zoo opens.

1928

Carbondale becomes part of Tulsa.

Tulsa Municipal Airport dedicated.

Spartan Aircraft Company in business.

Spartan School of Aeronautics established.

Philtower Building constructed.

1929

Boston Avenue Methodist Church and National Bank of Tulsa Building constructed.

Mohawk Park Waterworks Plant completed.

Tulsa annexed Carbondale.

1930

Cain's Dance Academy in business.

Population: 141,258.

1931

Union Depot opens.

Philcade Building constructed.

1932

Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion (arena) built.

Waite Phillips donated his home to become Philbrook Art Museum.

1934 - National Conference of Christians and Jews Tulsa chapter founded.

1938 - Webster High School opens.

1939

Morningside Hospital reorganized and renamed as Hillcrest Hospital.

Philbrook Art Center opens.

Will Rogers High School built.

1940 – Population: 142,157.

1941 - Air Force builds bomber plant at Tulsa Airport.

1943 - Oklahoma Hospital becomes Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital.

1946 - American Airlines opens aircraft maintenance facility at Tulsa Airport.

1948 - Tulsa Opera and Tulsa Philharmonic founded.

1949

Dawson becomes part of city.

KOTV begins broadcasting.

1950s-1990s

1950 – Population: 182,740.

1951 - Bell's Amusement Park opens.

1952 - Lake Eucha and second pipeline from Lake Spavinaw to Tulsa constructed to supplement city water supply.

1953

Golden Driller statue created for and displayed at the International Petroleum Exposition.

Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission established.

1956

Highland Park becomes part of Tulsa.

Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Baptist Association founded.

1958

Apache Drive-In cinema opens.

Gilcrease Foundation conveyed Gilcrease Museum to the city.

1960

Saint Francis Hospital opens.

Area of city: 50 square miles.

Population: 261,685.

1961 - New airport terminal opened.

1963 - Tulsa Youth Symphony founded.

1964 - Tulsa Convention Center opens.

1965

Oral Roberts University established.

Tulsa City-County Library Central Library opened.

1966

Area of city expands.

Tulsa Expo Center built; Golden Driller statue permanently installed.

James M. Hewgley, Jr. becomes mayor.

1967

Prayer Tower and Fourth National Bank of Tulsa built.

Union Depot abandoned after passenger train service ceases.

1970

Tulsa Junior College established.

Robert J. LaFortune becomes mayor.

Population: 331,638.

1971 - Tulsa Port of Catoosa opened to shipping via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.

1972

Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa established.

Area of city: 175.71 square miles.

1973 - First National BanCorporation Tower built.

1974 - Tulsa Area United Way active.

1975

Westhope added to NRHP.

Tulsa Municipal Building added to NRHP.

Williams Brothers Tower (now named BOK Tower) built.

1976

Memorial Day flood causes major damage along Mingo, Joe and Haikey creeks.

Woodland Hills Mall in business.

1977 - Tulsa Performing Arts Center opens.

1978

Tulsa Signature Symphony founded.

Jim Inhofe becomes mayor.

Boston Avenue Methodist Church added to NRHP.

Philbrook Museum of Art added to NRHP.

William G. Skelly House added to NRHP.

1979

Convention Hall (Brady Theater) added to NRHP.

McFarlin Building added to NRHP.

Philtower added to NRHP.

Pierce Block added to NRHP.

Final occurrence of International Petroleum Exposition.

Mike Synar becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district.

1980

Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights group formed.

Brady Heights Historic District added to NRHP.

Mayo Hotel added to NRHP.

Population: 360,919.

1981

City of Faith Medical and Research Center opens.

Tulsa Community Food Bank and Heller Theatre founded.

1982

Gillette Historic District added to NRHP.

Holy Family Cathedral, Rectory and School added to NRHP.

Tulsa Pride begins.

1983 - Swan Lake Neighborhood Association and Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Tulsa founded.

1984

Mid-Continent Tower built.

Oklahoma Natural Gas Company Building added to NRHP.

Public Service of Oklahoma Building added to NRHP.

1986 - Philcade Building added to NRHP.

1987

Chili Bowl midget car race begins.

Jim Inhofe becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district.

1988 - Tulsa Preservation Commission and Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame established.

1989

Osage Expressway opens.

Mayor-council form of government adopted.

1990

Southwest Tulsa Chamber of Commerce formed.

Population: 367,302.

1991 - Urban Tulsa Weekly newspaper begins publication.

1992

Tulsa receives 1992 Outstanding Public Service Award from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its flood management program.

Tulsa Tribune goes out of business.

Susan Savage becomes first woman to serve as mayor of Tulsa.

1996 - Camille's Sidewalk Cafe in business.

1997 - Conestoga science fiction convention begins.

1998

Tulsa Community Foundation established.

Tulsa Air and Space Museum established.

Swan Lake Historic District added to NRHP.

1999

City website online (approximate date).

Eleventh Street Arkansas River Bridge added to NRHP.

Hindu Temple of Greater Tulsa founded.

2000s

2000 - Population: 393,049; metro 859,532.

2001 - White City Historic District added to NRHP

2002

Diversafest begins;

Yorktown Historic District added to NRHP.

2003 - Cain's Ballroom added to NRHP

2004 - 11th Street Bridge renamed as Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Bridge.

2005

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra formed.

Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice headquartered in Tulsa.

2006 - Bell's Amusement Park goes out of business.

2007

Union Depot building converted to house Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.

Will Rogers High School added to NRHP.

Buena Vista Park Historic District added to NRHP.

Ranch Acres Historic District added to NRHP.

2008

University of Tulsa selected to manage the Gilcrease Museum.

Tokyo in Tulsa anime convention begins.

BOK Center stadium opens.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church added to NRHP.

Opening of Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Plaza

2009

Tulsa Botanic Garden opens to public.

Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. becomes mayor.

Atlas Life Building added to NRHP.

2010

This Land Press begins publication.

Population: 391,906; metro 937,478.

Area of city: 196.75 square miles.

Oil Capital Historic District created on December 10, 2010.

Brady Historic District added to NRHP.

2012 - Oklahoma Defenders football team active.

2013

Tulsa Convention Center renamed as Cox Business Center.

Center of the Universe Festival (music fest) held.

Jim Bridenstine becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district.

2014

Woodward Park and Gardens Historic District established

Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum completed.

2015

Frontier news begins publication.[5]

Oklahoma Defenders football team ceased operating.

2016 - Vision 2025 Tax plan approved by voters to provide funding for planned major projects