Timeline of Aurora, Colorado

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Aurora, Colorado, USA.

Prior to 20th century

1890 - Settlement named "Fletcher."
1891
* Fletcher incorporated as a town.
* H.M. Miliken becomes mayor.
1892 - Schoolhouse burns down.
1893 - Denver-Fletcher trolley begins operating.

20th century

1902 - Section of town becomes part of Adams County; the other section becomes part of South Arapahoe County.
1906
* Town Hall built.
* Democrat-News begins publication.
1907
* Fletcher renamed "Aurora."
* First Presbyterian Church built.
1908 - Electricity begins operating.
1918 - US Army General Hospital No. 21 opens.
1924 - Colfax Avenue becomes part of U.S. Route 40.
1925
* Aurora Woman's Club formed.
* Hollywood cinema opens.
1929
* Aurora Public Library established.
* Stapleton Aerodrome begins operating near Aurora.
1938 - US military Lowry Technical Training Center built.
1939 - Population: 3,494.
1942 - US military Buckley Space Force Base built.
1946
* Fox Theatre in business.
* City Planning Commission established.
1949 - City Water Department established.
1950 - East 70 Drive-In cinema in business.
1954 - Hoffman Heights becomes part of Aurora.
1955 – Denver Regional Council of Governments formed.
1965 - Norma Walker becomes mayor.
1966 - Arapahoe Junior College opens.
1971
* Buckingham Square Mall in business.
* Camelot hi-rise offices built.
1972
* Aurora Advocate Sentinel and Aurora Sun newspapers begin publication.
* Little League baseball team formed.
1974 - Quincy Reservoir constructed.
1975 - Aurora Mall in business.
1979
* Aurora History Museum founded.
* Marketplace Tower I office building constructed.
1981 - Aurora Genealogical Society founded.
1982 - Aurora Public Library Central building constructed.
1984 - Bennett family murders
1985 - City Historic Preservation Commission established.
1990 - Population: 222,103.
1992 - Sister city relationship established with Seongnam, South Korea.
1993 - December 13: 1993 Aurora, Colorado shooting.
1994 - US Lowry Air Force Base closes.
1996
* City website online.
* Arabian Horse Association headquartered in Aurora.
1998 - Century cinema in business.

21st century

2003
* Aurora Municipal Center built.
* Ed Tauer becomes mayor.
2004 - Population: 298,303.
2007 - Children's Hospital Colorado opens.
2009 - Mike Coffman becomes U.S. representative for Colorado's 6th congressional district.
2010 - Population: 325,078.
2011
* Steve Hogan becomes mayor.
* Colorado's 6th congressional district remapped.
2012 - July 20: 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting.
2014 - Sister city relationship established with Adama, Ethiopia.
2017 - May 15: The Republic of El Salvador opens a consulate in Aurora, the city's first.
2018 - Mayor Steve Hogan dies in office.
2022 - A shooting at Iglesia Faro De Luz Church in Aurora kills at least one, a woman, and injures two others.