The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Corpus Christi, Texas, USA.

Prior to 19th century

Part of a series on the
History of Texas
Timeline
Pre-Columbian Texas Early Spanish explorations 1519–1543 French Texas 1684–1689 Spanish Texas 1690–1821 Mexican Texas 1821–1836 Republic of Texas 1836–1845 Statehood 1845–1860 Civil War Era 1861–1865 Reconstruction 1865–1899 Years in Texas
Texas portal
v t e

• 1519 - Spaniard Alonso Alvarez de Pineda travels to bay on day of religious Feast of Corpus Christi.^[1]

19th century

• 1821
  • Mexico gains independence from Spain
  • The Old Indian Trading Grounds become part of Mexico.
• 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
  • Oil discovered in vicinity of Corpus Christi.^[3]
  • Population: 27,741.^[6]
• 1935 - Del Mar College founded.^[1]
• 1937 - KRIS radio begins broadcasting.^[12]
• 1940
  • Beach Theater in business.^[10]
  • Population: 57,301.^[6]
• 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
  • Only a Handful releases the Corpus Christi theme song "I'm from Corpus" ^[24]
  • Population: 305,215.^[25]
• 2011 - Blake Farenthold becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 27th congressional district.^[26]