Walnut Creek Historical Timeline
1772
Captain Pedro Fages leads the first Spanish exploration party into Contra Costa County in March. They encounter the Bolbones Indians, the original inhabitants of the area now known as Walnut Creek.
1821
Spain loses its claim to California as a colony after a rebellion by Mexico.
1832
Mexico encourages settlement in its new territory by giving large land grants. Four of the land grants are in the Walnut Creek area: Rancho Arroyo de las Nueces y Bolbones, Rancho San Ramon, Rancho Las Juntas and Rancho Caņada de Hambre.
1840s-1850s
Walnut Creek is first known as The Corners because it is the intersection of the two dirt roads leading from Pacheco and Oakland. It also marks the spot where the four Mexican land grants meet.
1849
First American settler William Slusher builds a house on the bank of what was then known as Nuts Creek.
1850
California becomes the 31st state. 1850s-1870s Farmers mainly grow grains. By the 1890s, with the introduction of irrigation, farmers plant fruit and nut orchards, which replace wheat as the major crop.
1855
Milo Hough builds the first hotel and store, called the Walnut Creek House. It's destroyed in a fire on April 5, 1867 and rebuilt.
1860
Hiram Penniman lays out the first town site and realigns what is now Main Street.
1862
The Corners is officially renamed Walnut Creek, with the establishment of the U.S. Post Office in December.
1871
Walnut Creek Central School is built. After two failed attempts in 1869, residents vote to tax themselves $1,500 for a new school.
1872
Walnut Creek Methodist Church is built on Main Street to become first in the community. Homer Shuey files the first subdivisions that establish the street pattern in modern-day Walnut Creek.
1882
Walnut Creek Independent newspaper begins publication on March 24; last edition is published in July 1882.
1884
Walnut Creek Presbyterian church opens. Also, St. Mary's Catholic Church is dedicated on Oct. 21.
1888
St. Paul's Mission Church opens, built by Cornelius Waite.
1891
Southern Pacific Railroad inaugurates service to Walnut Creek on June 7. Population estimated at 400.
1894
Walnut Creek Sentinel newspaper begins March 9; last edition is published in July 1894.
1897
Population estimated at 450.
1907
San Ramon Valley Bank established.
1910
The Great Western Power Co. brings electricity to Walnut Creek. James Stow and his brother run the first electrical lines to their buidling on Main Street.
1911
Electric rail service arrives in January. The Contra Costa Courier is launched in May 1911. Grape Carnival held on Main Street to celebrate grape harvest and arrival of electrical service.
1913
First National Bank built. It merges in 1921 with the San Ramon Valley Bank and in 1927 becomes the Bank of Italy, later renamed Bank of America.
1914
Walnut Creek incorporates on Oct. 21 as the eighth city in Contra Costa County. Harry Spencer is elected first president of the Board of Trustees (mayor).
1920
The Ramona Theatre, Walnut Creek's first movie house, opens on March 6. Population is 538.
1921
Main Street paving is completed. John Marchbank buys former Johnny Walker property in Ygnacio Valley and opens Heather Farm to train thoroughbred race horses.
1926
Chamber of Commerce is formed.
1928
Theodore Berling becomes Walnut Creek's first police chief.
1930
Population is 1,014.
1931
Film actor Clark Gable films scenes for upcoming MGM feature Sporting Blood at Heather Farm in May/June.
1930s
Pears and walnuts are the only significant crops. By 1950, agriculture ceases to be an important economic factor in Walnut Creek.
1936
First Walnut Parade and Festival takes place in October.
1937
El Rey Theatre opens on Main Street in July.
1940
Population is 1,587.
1946
First city half-cent sales tax takes effect.
1947
City's first park opens downtown with a lighted ballfield and tennis courts. Parking meters are placed on Main Street, generating $650 a month for the city. Dean Lesher buys the Walnut Creek Courier-Journal. The newspaper is renamed the Contra Costa Times in 1952.
1951
Broadway Shopping Center opens with 38 stores on Oct. 11. Walnut Creek's first high school, Las Lomas, opens.
1955
Developer Joseph Eichler begins building the Rancho San Miguel subdivision in Ygnacio Valley, the region's first.
1956
Voters approve the Little Master Plan to finance the improvement of downtown streets. City Council appoints Ira Gunn as its first city manager.
1960
Population 9,903.
I-680/ Highway 24 interchange opens in March. Costing $15 million, it takes three years to build.
1961
Walnut Creek library is dedicated on March 19.
1964
City celebrates its 50th anniversary of incorporation by issuing a commemorative coin.
1969
Festival Cinema, Walnut Creek's first multiplex cinema, opens Memorial Day weekend.
1970
Population is 39,844.
City officially opens Heather Farm Park on July 4. Former Hiram Penniman home in Ygnacio Valley deeded to City by the Gospel Foundation of California.
1971
City adopts its first General Plan.
1972
Walnut Creek Historical Society opens Hiram Penniman's 1903 family home as the Shadelands Ranch Historical Museum on Nov. 18.
1973
BART begins service between Concord and Oakland. Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill BART stations open May 21.
1974
Voters pass $6.75 million open space bond measure by 2/3rds majority that leads to acquisition of more than 1,400 acres of undeveloped ridgeline and hillside land.
1980
Population is 53,643.
1985
Citizens for a Better Walnut Creek draft Measure H, a growth-control initiative to restrict commercial development until traffic at major intersections improves. It is narrowly approved by voters. In 1989, Dean Lesher files a lawsuit challenging Measure H. The California Supreme Court rules the initiative invalid on Dec. 31, 1990.
1987
Walnut Creek adopts Noceto, Italy, as sister city. In 1993, Siofok, Hungary, becomes the second European sister city. Population is 60,569.
1990
Regional Center for the Arts opens on Oct. 4 with a gala show featuring legendary comedian Bob Hope, singers Vic Damone and Diahann Carroll, and Oscar-winning actor Joel Gray. The venue is renamed the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts in 1995, and in 2007 the name becomes Lesher Center for the Arts.
1995
Contra Costa Times and all the East Bay papers of Lesher Communications are bought by Knight Ridder Inc. for $360 million.
1998
Iron Horse Trail overcrossing at Ygnacio Valley Road is dedicated on May 16; Broadway Pointe, a mix of upscale stores, is completed; Liberty Bell Plaza is renovated.
1999
Construction is completed on I-680/ Highway 24 interchange.
2000
Population is 64,296.
2001
City opens Shadelands Arts Center as new home of Civic Arts Education in February. City opens Heather Farm Park Sports Fields in November.
2002
City Hall expansion completed; voters approved Measure Q library parcel tax to increase library hours; Festival Cinema razed Nov. 26
2003
100th anniversary of the Hiram Penniman house (Shadelands Ranch Historical Museum) on April 27; City opens Alma Park on Nov. 22
2004
City dedicates Veterans Memorial Plaza on Memorial Day, May 31
2005
City opens skate park at Heather Farm Park Nov. 12; Walnut Creek on Ice opens at Civic Park Nov. 20
2006
City Council adopts General Plan 2025 on April 4; former City Attorney and state Senator John A. Nejedly dies at age 91 on Sept. 19
2007
Community mourns deaths of two Walnut Creek soldiers killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; City dedicates Lar Rieu Park Nov. 3; City opens dog park in Heather Farm Park Nov. 17; downtown library closes Nov. 30
2008
Former downtown library razed Feb. 26; construction begins in August on replacement library
Sources:
150 Years in Pictures: An Illustrated History of Walnut Creek by Brad Rovanpera
Walnut Creek: A Look Back, City of Walnut Creek, pictorial chronicle compiled by Brad Rovanpera
California's Contra Costa County: An Illustrated History by George Emanuels
