Timeline of Cleveland

This article is a timeline of the history of the city of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

1904 map of Cleveland

18th century

• 1796 – Moses Cleaveland and survey party arrive at the location that would later become Cleveland.^[1]
• 1797 – Lorenzo Carter, a prominent early settler, arrives.

19th century

• 1800 – Trumbull County created, encompassing Cleveland.
• 1803 – Ohio becomes the 17th State admitted to the Union.
• 1805 – Geauga County created, encompassing Cleveland.
• 1808 – Lorenzo Carter builds the Zephyr, the first ship to be launched in Cleveland.
• 1810 – Cuyahoga County organized; Cleveland selected as county seat.^[1]
• 1813 – Oliver Hazard Perry wins the Battle of Lake Erie at Put-in-Bay in the War of 1812.
• 1814
  • Cleveland receives its charter as a village.^[1]
  • Newburgh Township created.
• 1815
  • Alfred Kelley is elected the first president of the village of Cleveland.
  • Euclid Avenue commissioned, subsequently known as Millionaires' Row.
• 1818 – The Cleveland Gazette and Commercial Register, Cleveland's first newspaper is published.^[2]
• 1822 – a free bridge is opened across the Cuyahoga River.
• 1827 – opening of the Ohio canal as far as Akron.^[1]
• 1830 – population: 1,076.^[1]
• 1831
  • The Cleveland Advertiser alters the spelling of the community's name to Cleveland.
  • James A. Garfield, 20th United States President, born in Orange Township.
• 1832 – Ohio and Erie Canal completed to the Ohio River.^[1]
• 1836
  • Cleveland and Ohio City are incorporated as cities.
  • John W. Willey is elected the first mayor of Cleveland.
  • Bridge War between Cleveland and Ohio City takes place.
• 1837 – Cleveland City Council votes to create City Hospital, now MetroHealth.
• 1840 – population: 6,071.^[1]
• 1842 – The Plain Dealer begins publication.^[2][1]
• 1844 – Samuel Starkweather elected mayor.
• 1845 – City Bank of Cleveland (forerunner of National City Corp.) founded.
• 1847
  • The Weddell House opens.
  • The first telegraph line (from Cleveland to Pittsburgh) is completed.
• 1848 – Colored National Convention held in city.^[3]
• 1850
  • William Case elected mayor.
  • Population: 17,034.^[1]
• 1851 – Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad completed.
• 1852 – The Aliened American newspaper begins publication.^[4][5]
• 1853
  • The Cleveland Theater opens.
  • National Women's Rights Convention held.
  • Woodland Cemetery established.
• 1854
  • Ohio City annexed to Cleveland.
  • William B. Castle elected mayor.
  • The Cleveland Leader begins publication.
• 1860
  • Perry Monument on Public Square dedicated.
  • Population: 43,417.^[1]
• 1861
  • Abraham Lincoln visits Cleveland.^[6]
  • The American Civil War begins.
• 1865
  • The American Civil War ends.
  • Thousands of Clevelanders mourn the death of Lincoln.^[6]
• 1866 – Cleveland Police Department established.
• 1869
  • Cleveland Public Library established.
  • Lake View Cemetery opens.
• 1870
  • Standard Oil Company in business.^[7]
  • Population: 92,829.^[1]
• 1873
  • Cleveland Bar Association established.
  • Newburgh annexed to Cleveland.
• 1874 – First Woman's National Temperance Convention held in Cleveland, establishing the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.^[8]
• 1875 – Euclid Avenue Opera House opens.
• 1876
  • Charles F. Brush patents an electric generator.
  • Riverside Cemetery Chapel & Riverside Cemetery Gatehouse built.
• 1878 – Penny Press, predecessor to the Cleveland Press, begins publication.
• 1880
  • James A. Garfield, from Cleveland, elected 20th President of the United States.
  • Case School of Applied Science established.
  • Population: 160,146.^[1]
• 1881
  • Garfield lies in state on Public Square after being assassinated, July 2.
  • Adelbert Hall built.
• 1882
  • Western Reserve College moves to Cleveland.
  • Cleveland School of Art established.
• 1883 – John H. Farley elected mayor.
• 1884
  • First electric streetcar run in the city.
  • Cleveland Electric Light Co. formed.
• 1887 – Michelson–Morley experiment conducted at Western Reserve University.
• 1890
  • The Arcade opens.
  • Garfield Monument dedicated in Lake View Cemetery.
  • Population: 261,353.^[1]
• 1894
  • May Day Riots of 1894
  • Soldiers and Sailors Monument dedicated.
• 1895 – Robert E. McKisson elected mayor.
• 1896 – Cleveland celebrates its centennial.

Trumbull County Courthouse. The first Trumbull County Courthouse was built in 1815. It was replaced by a second, larger courthouse in 1854. A third courthouse, and the one still standing today, was completed in 1897 after the previous one was destroyed by a fire in 1895.

• 1897 – Bohemian National Hall built.
• 1899
  • Cleveland streetcar strike.^[1]
  • John H. Farley re-elected mayor.
• 1900 – population: 381,768.^[1]

20th century

Map of Territorial Changes to the City of Cleveland

1900s–1940s

• 1901
  • Tom L. Johnson elected mayor.^[1]
  • The Cleveland Blues (predecessor to the Cleveland Guardians) are established as one of the first teams in the new American League.
  • Cleveland worker and avowed anarchist, Leon Czolgosz assassinates U.S. President William McKinley in Buffalo, New York.
• 1905
  • The Cleveland News begins publication
  • Glenville and South Brooklyn annexed to Cleveland.
• 1908
  • Collinwood School Fire
  • More Streetcar strikes but less violent and unsuccessful.^[1]
• 1909
  • Tom L. Johnson loses mayoral race to Herman C. Baehr.
  • Corlett Village annexed to Cleveland.
• 1910
  • Collinwood annexed to Cleveland.
  • Cleveland Railway Company operated from 1910 to 1942.
  • Population: 560,663.^[1]
• 1911
  • Tom L. Johnson dies.
  • Church of the Covenant established.^[9]
• 1912 – Village of Nottingham annexed to Cleveland.
• 1913
  • The Great Lakes Storm of 1913 hits Cleveland.
  • Home Rule City Charter approved by Cleveland voters.^[9]
  • Cleveland Museum of Art established.^[9]
  • Metropolitan Theatre opened.
  • The first Community Chest, "Community Fund", founded in Cleveland.^[9]
• 1914
  • Cleveland chosen as the Fourth District headquarters of the Federal Reserve Bank.
  • Cleveland Municipal Light Plant goes into operation.
• 1915 – Cleveland Play House and Western Reserve University's School of Applied Social Science^[10] established.
• 1916
  • Cleveland Museum of Art opens.
  • Cleveland City Hall dedicated.
• 1917 – Cleveland Metroparks organized.
• 1918
  • Federal Court trial of Eugene V. Debs held in Cleveland.
  • Detroit–Superior Bridge construction completed.
  • The first Cleveland Cripple Survey was published; one of the first accurate disability censuses, that measured the social and economic conditions of individuals considered.
• 1919
  • May Day Riots of 1919
  • State Prohibition is enacted in Cleveland
  • Voters approve placement of a new railroad terminal on Public Square.
• 1920
  • Cleveland Institute of Music founded.
  • Cleveland becomes the fifth-largest city in the nation.
  • The Volstead Act and the Eighteenth Amendment become law.
  • Cleveland Indians win the World Series.
  • Cleveland Museum of Natural History established.
  • Population: 796,841.^[9]
• 1921
  • Cleveland Clinic and Playhouse Square established.
  • KeyBank State Theatre built.
  • Mimi Ohio Theatre opened.
  • Hanna Theatre opened.
• 1922 – demolition for the Terminal Tower site begins
• 1923
  • Federal Reserve bank building completed.
  • Alcazar Hotel completed.
• 1924
  • Republican National Convention held in Cleveland.
  • Mayor/Council form of government replaced by City Manager plan.
• 1925
  • New Public Library building opens.
  • Cleveland Airport (now Hopkins International) opens.
  • University Hospitals incorporated.
• 1929
  • Cleveland Clinic disaster occurs.
  • National Air Race first held in Cleveland.
  • The Stock Market crashes
• 1930 – The Tower City Center is dedicated.
• 1931
  • Severance Hall dedicated.
  • City Manager system reverts to the Mayor/Council form of government.
  • Ray T. Miller elected mayor.
• 1932 – Hope Memorial Bridge construction completed.
• 1933
  • Harry L. Davis returns as mayor.
  • Depression-era unemployment peaks in Cleveland: nearly one-third of the city's citizens are out of work.
  • Prohibition is repealed on December 23 – nearly eight months longer than the Eighteenth Amendment.
• 1935
  • Harold Hitz Burton elected mayor.
  • Eliot Ness becomes Safety Director of Cleveland.
• 1936 – Republican National Convention held in Cleveland.
• 1937
  • Cleveland Barons hockey team established.
  • Cleveland Arena opens.
  • Cleveland Rams begin to play professional football.
  • John D. Rockefeller dies.
• 1938
  • Cleveland Memorial Shoreway opens between East 9th Street and Gordon Park.
  • Clevelander Jesse Owens wins four gold medals at Berlin Olympic Games.
  • Great Lakes Exposition opens.
  • Cleveland Torso Murderer with up to 20 victims.
• 1939 – Main Avenue Bridge opened.
• 1940 – NACA, forerunner of NASA, established at the Cleveland airport.
• 1941
  • Frank Lausche elected mayor.
  • Western Reserve Red Cats win the Sun Bowl, the city's first college football bowl game.
• 1942 – Cleveland Bomber Plant (now the I-X Center) opens at Municipal Airport.
• 1944 – Cleveland East Ohio Gas Explosion claims 130 lives.
• 1945
  • Thomas A. Burke elected mayor.
  • Cleveland Rams win NFL football title then move to Los Angeles.
• 1946
  • Cleveland Browns are founded and begin play in All-America Football Conference.
  • Cleveland Browns win the All-America Football Conference championship.
• 1947
  • Operations begin at the lakefront airport.
  • First telecast by WEWS, Ohio's first television station.
  • Eliot Ness runs for mayor of Cleveland but is defeated by incumbent Thomas A. Burke.
  • Cleveland Browns win the All-America Football Conference championship.
• 1948
  • Cleveland Indians win World Series.
  • Cleveland Browns win the All-America Football Conference championship.
• 1949
  • Cleveland named an All-America City for first time.
  • Cleveland Browns win the All-America Football Conference championship.

1950s-1990s

• 1950
  • Cleveland Browns begin play in National Football League.
  • Cleveland Browns win the National Football League championship.
• 1953 – Anthony J. Celebrezze elected mayor.
• 1954
  • Last streetcars run.
  • Cleveland Browns win the National Football League championship.
• 1955
  • Rapid Transit begins operation.
  • Cleveland Browns win the National Football League championship.
• 1959 – Boddie Recording Company in business.^[11]
• 1960
  • Erieview urban renewal plan unveiled.
  • Final issue of the Cleveland News published.
• 1961 - Mapp v. Ohio
• 1962
  • Ralph S. Locher elected mayor.
  • Innerbelt Freeway opens for its full length.
• 1964
  • Erieview Tower completed.
  • Cleveland State University established.
  • Cleveland Browns win the National Football League championship.
• 1965 – WVIZ, an educational television station, begins broadcasting.
• 1966
  • Hough Riots
  • Cuyahoga Community College opens its Metro Campus.
• 1967
  • Carl B. Stokes elected the first African American mayor of a major American city.
  • Case Western Reserve University established.
• 1968
  • Glenville Shootout
  • Terry v. Ohio
• 1969
  • A burning oil slick on the Cuyahoga River attracts national attention regarding pollution.
  • Euclid Beach Park closes.
• 1970 – Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team organized.
• 1972 – Cleveland Magazine begins publication.
• 1973 – Cleveland Barons play their last hockey game.
• 1974 – Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority established.
• 1976 – desegregation of the Cleveland Public Schools ordered by U.S. District Judge Frank J. Battisti.
• 1977 – Dennis Kucinich elected mayor.
• 1978
  • Cleveland is hit by the Great Blizzard of 1978
  • 1978 recall election
  • December 15, Cleveland becomes the first American city to go into default since the Depression.
• 1979
  • George Voinovich elected mayor.
  • Cleveland Foodbank established.
• 1980 – presidential debate between candidates Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan held in Cleveland.
• 1981
  • Cleveland Public Theatre opened.
  • City Council reduced from 33 to 21 members.
  • Term of office for mayor and council members increased from two to four years.
• 1982
  • Ground broken for the Sohio (BP) Building on Public Square.
  • The Cleveland Press ceases publication.
  • Cleveland named an All-America City for second time.
• 1984 – Cleveland named an All-America City for third time.
• 1986
  • Cleveland named an All-America City for fourth time.
  • Cleveland selected as site for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• 1987 – Cleveland emerges from default.
• 1988 – Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Case Western Reserve University's Center on Urban Poverty and Social Change established.
• 1989 – Michael R. White elected mayor.
• 1991 – Key Tower "topped off" at 947 ft (289 m).
• 1993 – Cleveland named an All-America City for fifth time.
• 1995
  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opens.^[12]
  • Indians win American League championship.
  • Bishop Anthony Pilla is elected to the presidency of USCCB
• 1996
  • Cleveland celebrates its bicentennial.
  • Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony win a Grammy for "Tha Crossroads"
• 1997 – Cleveland Indians win the American League pennant and return to the World Series.
• 1999 – the new Cleveland Browns Stadium opens with the return of the Cleveland Browns.

21st century

• 2001 – Cleveland Barons are revived.
• 2002 – Cleveland citizens elect Jane L. Campbell as the first female mayor of Cleveland.
• 2003 – 2003 North America blackout
• 2004 – vice-presidential candidates Dick Cheney and John Edwards debate at Case Western Reserve University.
• 2005 – Frank G. Jackson is the first sitting city councillor to be elected mayor since Stephen Buhrer in 1867.^[13]
• 2006
  • Barons leave Cleveland for the second time.
  • Cleveland, Columbus, and other Ohio cities argue against a bill passed by the Ohio House legislature that will eliminate residency rules.
• 2007
  • Cleveland is hit with a major winter storm in February, leaving 15 inches of snow.
  • October 20, Cleveland became the first television market in the United States to have all of its local television stations to broadcast in high definition.
• 2008 – Cuyahoga County federal corruption investigation.^[14]
• 2009
  • The Ohio Supreme Court upholds the 2006 law prohibiting residency requirements.
  • Frank Jackson wins a second term as Mayor of Cleveland.
  • November, Ohio Voters open Ohio to casino gambling and Cleveland will have a casino by 2013.
  • Cleveland is selected by the International Gay Games committee to host the 2014 Gay Games. Cleveland beat out Boston, Washington DC, and Hamburg Germany.
• 2010 – population: 396,815.^[15]
• 2011 – construction begins on the Medical Mart and new convention center, scheduled to open late 2013.
• 2013 – Frank Jackson wins a third term as Mayor of Cleveland against Kenneth Lanci.
• 2014
  • Shooting of Tamir Rice
  • Hosts the international 2014 Gay Games, also known as Gay Games 9
• 2015 – Chief U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. signs consent decree for the Cleveland Division of Police.^[16]
• 2016
  • Cleveland Cavaliers win the NBA Championship.
  • Lake Erie Monsters win the Calder Cup and then are renamed Cleveland Monsters.
  • Republican National Convention held in Cleveland.
  • The Cleveland Indians face the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series.
• 2017 – Frank Jackson wins a fourth term as Mayor of Cleveland, becoming the city's longest-serving mayor.^[17]
• 2018 – Cleveland's population begins to flatten as Downtown population increases.^[18]
• 2019
  • The Beacon completed in Downtown Cleveland.
  • Cuyahoga River named "River of the Year" by the American Rivers conservation association.^[19]
• 2020
  • Population: 372,624.^[15]
  • The COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio begins when Ohio Governor Mike DeWine reports the earliest cases of the virus to be in Cuyahoga County.^[20]
  • George Floyd protests take place in Cleveland and most major U.S. cities.
  • The Lumen tower completed in Downtown Cleveland.
  • Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic host the first 2020 U.S. presidential debate at the Health Education Campus (HEC).^[21]
• 2021
  • 2021 NFL draft held in Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium.
  • Frank Jackson announces that he will not pursue a fifth term as mayor.^[22]
  • The Cleveland Indians assume the name the Cleveland Guardians.
  • Justin Bibb elected mayor.

See also

• History of Cleveland
• Bibliography of Cleveland

Other cities in Ohio

• Timeline of Cincinnati
• Timeline of Columbus, Ohio
• Timeline of Toledo, Ohio