Twelve thousand years ago -
Eastern Cross Timbers located and a direct result of a geological outcrop called the Woodbine Group Sandstone and sandy shale deposits (some ninety million years ago-middle of the Crustaceous period) Allow forests to grow so thick with trees that according to early settler, “Men on horses couldn’t negotiate through them.”

7,500 Years ago to 1,500 A.D. -
Paleo-Indian People – Conquistadors
Artifacts discovered within Grapevine city limits

1836 - Texians win their independence from Mexico

1841 - W.S. Peters of Louisville, KY and 19 associates contracted to bring 600 families into the area
Peters colonists who settled in the area included names such as Allen, Cate, Easter, Freeman, Hall, Hood, and Throop

Gen. Edward H. Tarrant ordered the construction and garrisoning of a fort near the site to protect the extreme northwest corner of the Texas frontier.  Fort Bird subsequently became the site of the Tarrant County community of Birdville, now part of northeast Fort Worth.  In Arlington a stone marker commemorates the fort.

1844 - Treaty of Grapevine Springs between Republic of Texas and Indian groups to bring “peace, friendship and commerce” to the area (the site is near Coppell).  Among the interpreters in this treaty was Jesse Chisholm, for whom the Chisholm Trail is named. (Note: The Chisholm Trail does not exist in Texas.  According to signed statements of men who actually drove cattle on various Texas trails, the Chisholm Trail began at the Red River and went north into Oklahoma.  Marketers are in error to attribute it to Texas.)

1845 - Texas becomes 28th state in the Union.

Missouri colonists begin to settle the now-Southlake area.

1846 - Lonesome Dove Baptist Church, organized by colonists from Platte County, Mo., is established.

1859 - Mount Gilead Baptist Church, a sister church of Lonesome Dove, is burned by a raiding band of Indians. Mount Gilead is in present-day Keller.

1871 - White's Chapel Church is founded.  

1888 - Robert E. Wilson, the founder of the Jellico community, opens a general store near the intersection of present-day Davis Boulevard and Southlake Boulevard.

1889 - The Dallas, Pacific & Southeastern Railway Co. lays out a roadbed for a railroad from Letot, Texas, to Albuquerque, but stops at the Jack County line. The roadbed passes northwest of Grapevine through what is now Southlake.

1919 - Dove School, White's Chapel School and Sams School combine to become the Carroll Common School District

1920 - The roadbed of Keller-Grapevine Road (now Highway 1709) receives a gravel topping

1929 - Construction of Texas 114 begins along a roadbed purchased from a bankrupt railroad.  Construction is completed in 1932

1934 - Outlaws Bonnie and Clyde kill two state troopers near Dove Road and Texas 114

1948 - Construction of Grapevine Lake begins and is completed in 1952. The cost is nearly $11.8 million.

1956 - Southlake is incorporated on Sept. 22. The vote is 30-24. The town measures 1.62 square miles.

Estimated population 200

City officials included a mayor, five aldermen, and a town marshall

Town businesses included such names as Mesco Metal Buildings Company, Casey’s Grocery, Board’s Store, Bailey’s Grocery, Couch’s Grocery, various egg and pig farms, and a cotton gin

Churches included Lonesome Dove Baptist Church, White’s Chapel Methodist Church, and Second Advent Christian Church

1957 - Southlake becomes a General Law Municipality

1959 - Carroll Independent School District established from the county-controlled Carroll Common District, Grades 1-8 only

1964 - Southlake Post Office is established.  Ms. Lavon Baird is first Postmistress

Southlake Planning Board established

City Hall established inside Casey’s Grocery on Hwy. 114 at Carroll

First discussions of city providing water to residents underway

1965 - Town of Southlake becomes City of Southlake

First city bond election held for approval of city water

CISD fully accredited for grades 1-12

1966 - Southlake Fire Department is established as an all-volunteer force

Howard Moffat named first city fire chief

First fire engine is purchased for the fire department, a 1,000-gallon truck from Carswell Air Force Base, and is garaged at Casey’s Grocery on Carroll, north of Hwy. 114

Southlake Police Department is established

Town Marshal renamed Chief of Police

Population at 1,250

1967 - Lone Star Gas agreement entered into to provide gas service to city residents

First city library established inside Carroll School

City council approved 1.5-cent ad valorem tax on each $100 of assessed value property taxable by law

First patrol car purchased

1968 - First Comprehensive Land Use Plan developed by Fort Worth-based Carter & Burgess, Engineers, entered into with the city and beginning of a relationship that will continue for decades

Groundbreaking for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

1970 - New Carroll High School opens at Dove and Carroll

Jack Johnson Elementary School opens – named for first CISD Superintendent

1972 - Southlake renames major streets

A junior fire department made up of 16- to 18-year-old boys from Carroll High School is organized to assist the regular volunteer fire department

1974 - First major housing development brought before city council for approval

Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport opens

1975 - Southlake Parks and Recreation Board established

1976 - Bicentennial Park dedicated

Comprehensive city zoning recommended by Carter & Burgess, Engineers

Zoning changes initiated

1980 - Population at 2,800

1986 - Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport becomes Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

1987 - Southlake's population reaches 5,000. 

Residents vote and city adopts Home Rule Charter

1988 - City changes minimum lot size of one-acre allowing Planned Unit Developments (PUDs)

City annexes unincorporated areas at the rate of 10% per year

1990 - City hires first professional city planner

1991 - City adopts first Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan

1993 - Southlake's population reaches 10,000

1994 - State legislature allows cities to put ½ cent sales tax dedication to city parks

Southlake Parks Development Corporation begun

1996 - Monument to State Troopers E.B. Wheeler and H.D. Murphy, murdered by outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, dedicated.

City of Southlake celebrates its 40th birthday.

1997 - Southlake Historical Society disassembles the Freeman log cabin and stores it, planning to reconstruct it when possible.

Groundbreaking ceremony is held for Southlake Town Square.

1998 - Southlake population reaches 20,000.

2001 - Voters approved the local option election to allow wine sales in the grocery stores.  Vote was 3,007 in favor to 129 opposed.

City Library opens in Town Hall

2002 - Southlake DPS opens its West Facility

2004 - Grand opening celebration for SH 114 through Southlake, 12-lane grade-separated freeway, three-year construction