Prior to 20th century

• 1887
  • February: A stop along the newly completed Southern Kansas Railway line was constructed and named "Oklahoma Station."
  • December 30: The United States Postal Service established a post office at Oklahoma Station.
• 1889
  • April 22: Settlement established on Unassigned Lands of the United States.
  • Oklahoma Times, Weekly Oklahoman, and Oklahoma Gazette newspapers begin publication.
• 1890
  • Town charted in Oklahoma Territory.
  • W.J. Gault becomes mayor.
  • Population: 4,151.
• 1896 – January: Statehood convention held.

20th century

1900s–1940s

• 1901
  • Epworth University founded.
  • Douglass High School active (approximate date).
• 1902 – Oklahoma Historical Society headquartered in Oklahoma City.
• 1905 – Brock Dry Goods in business.
• 1906 – Oklahoma College for Young Women founded.
• 1907
  • Town becomes part of the new U.S. state of Oklahoma.
  • Population: 32,452.
  • Elmer L. Fulton becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district.
• 1908
  • Temple B’nai Israel synagogue built.
  • Dick Thompson Morgan becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district.
• 1909 – Colcord Building constructed.
• 1910
  • Oklahoma state capital relocated to Oklahoma City from Guthrie.
  • Cattlemen's Cafe in business.
  • Population: 64,205.
• 1911
  • Oklahoma City University established.
  • Skirvin Hotel in business.
• 1913 – Board of Health established.
• 1915 – Joseph Bryan Thompson becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
• 1916
  • Black Dispatch newspaper begins publication.
  • Blackwood David Business College established.
• 1917 – Emanuel Synagogue active.
• 1918 – Cain's Coffee Building constructed.
• 1919
  • Lake Overholser reservoir and Oklahoma State Capitol built.
  • Aldridge Theater opens (approximate date).
  • John W. Harreld becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
• 1920
  • WKY radio begins broadcasting.
  • Population: 91,295.
• 1921
  • Calvary Baptist Church built.
  • Fletcher B. Swank becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
• 1922
  • Ritz Theater opens.
  • Lynching of Jake Brooks Photographs of Jake Brooks's hanged body are sent to Congress, hoping for passage of the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill.
• 1923 – KOCY radio begins broadcasting.
• 1925 – Oklahoma City Blue Devils jazz band active.
• 1927 – New Quayle Methodist Episcopal Church built.
• 1928 – Oil discovered.
• 1929 – Ulysses S. Stone becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
• 1930 – Population: 185,389.
• 1931
  • Union Station opens.
  • First National Bank Building constructed.
  • Fletcher Swank becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district again.
• 1934
  • Taft Stadium built.
  • Santa Fe Depot opens.
• 1935 – Joshua B. Lee becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
• 1937
  • Daily Law Journal Record newspaper headquartered in city.
  • Robert P. Hill becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district, succeeded by Gomer Griffith Smith.
• 1939 – Mike Monroney becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
• 1940 – Population: 204,424.
• 1941 – U.S. military Tinker Air Force Base established.
• 1946 – Urban League established.
• 1948 – Milk Bottle Grocery in business.
• 1949 – WKY-TV (television) begins broadcasting.

1950s–1990s

• 1950
  • Circle Drive-In cinema opens.
  • Population: 243,504.
• 1951 – John Jarman becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
• 1953 – KWTV (television) begins broadcasting.
• 1954 – Griffin Television Tower erected.
• 1955 – Cowboy Hall of Fame and Museum established.
• 1958 – Oklahoma City sit-ins led by Clara Luper for racial desegregation begin.
• 1960
  • Penn Square Mall in business.
  • Population: 324,253.
• 1962 – Oklahoma City 89ers baseball team formed.
• 1964
  • July: Oklahoma City sonic boom tests begin.
  • Founders Tower built.
• 1965
  • Central Business District redevelopment plan ("Pei plan") adopted.
  • Community Action Agency of Oklahoma City established.
• 1966
  • Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority established.
  • Citizens Bank Tower built.
• 1968 – Harn Homestead and 1889ers Museum founded.
• 1969
  • August 19: Sanitation labor strike begins.
  • Oklahoma City Community Foundation established.
• 1970
  • Oklahoma Theater Center built.
  • Population: 366,481.
• 1971
  • University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center active.
  • Patience Latting becomes mayor.
  • Chase Tower built.
• 1972
  • Premiere of Western film J. W. Coop.
  • Myriad Convention Center opens.
  • Henry Overholser historic site established.
• 1974 – Underground pedestrian concourse built.
• 1976 – 45th Infantry Division Museum established.
• 1977
  • Murrah Federal Building constructed.
  • Mickey Edwards becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
• 1979 – Black Chronicle newspaper begins publication.
• 1980
  • Oklahoma City Food Bank organized.
  • Population: 403,213.
• 1983 – Andy Coats becomes mayor.
• 1984 – Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation established.
• 1987
  • Grusendorf v. City of Oklahoma City smoking-related lawsuit decided.
  • Ron Norick becomes mayor.
• 1988
  • Oklahoma City Pride begins.
  • Myriad Botanical Gardens Tropical Conservatory opens.
• 1990 – Population: 444,719.
• 1993 – Ernest Istook becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
• 1994 – Grateful Bean Cafe opens.
• 1995
  • April 19: Oklahoma City bombing.
  • City website online.
• 1999 – Kirk Humphreys becomes mayor.
• 2000 – Population: 506,132.

21st century

• 2001 – Oklahoma City National Memorial opens.
• 2002
  • Ford Center stadium opens.
  • Oklahoma City Lightning women's football team formed.
• 2003 – Guy Liebmann becomes mayor.
• 2004 – Mick Cornett becomes mayor.
• 2005 – Will Rogers World Airport's new terminal opens.
• 2006 – Douglass Mid-High School built.
• 2007 – Mary Fallin becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
• 2008 – Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team active.
• 2010
  • Oklahoma City Barons ice hockey team active.
  • Population: 579,999.
• 2011 – James Lankford becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
• 2012 – Devon Tower built.
• 2014 – Municipal Archives established.
• 2015 – Steve Russell becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.

See also

• History of Oklahoma City
• List of mayors of Oklahoma City
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
• Timelines of other cities in Oklahoma: Norman, Tulsa