The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.
19th century
1816–1850 1816 The U.S. Congress authorizes a state government for Indiana and donates federal land to establish a permanent seat of government for the new state. 1818 Under the terms of the Treaty of St. Mary's, the Delaware Nation cede their lands in Indiana to the U.S. government and agree to leave central Indiana by 1821.Howard, p. 2. 1820 On January 11 the Indiana General Assembly authorizes a selection committee to choose a permanent site for the new state capital. On June 7 the commissioners select four sections of land along west fork of the White River, on its eastern bank, northwest of Indiana's geographic center.Howard, p. 1. 1821 On January 6 the Indiana General Assembly ratifies the site selection on the White River in central Indiana as the permanent state capital of Indiana and names it Indianapolis, the state's new seat of government.Howard, p. 4. Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham are appointed to survey the site selected for the new state capital. The town's first two justices of the peace are appointed on January 9. Several hundred cases of illness and twenty-five fatalities, most of them children, are reported in Indianapolis after heavy rains fall during June, July, and August. The town's first property lots are offered for sale on October 8.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 31–32. Local residents erect the town's first log schoolhouse; however, the town's first permanent school is not established until 1824.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 90–91. A town cemetery is established near the White River. The site is renamed Greenlawn Cemetery in 1862. Marion County, Indiana, is established on December 31, 1821, with Indianapolis named as the county's seat of government. Issac Wilson builds a gristmill, a predecessor to the Acme-Evans Company, along the White River. Archer Daniels Midland acquires the company in 1988, and changes its name to the Acme-Evans/ADM Milling Company. Its downtown buildings are demolished in 1994, after the company moves to the city's south side.Geib, Indianapolis, p. 180, and Bodenhamer and Barrows, eds., p. 230. 1822 Indianapolis Gazette, the city's first newspaper, begins publication.Howard, p. 15. Indianapolis's first postmaster is appointed.Howard, p. 13. The first election of Marion County government officials is held.Howard, p. 14. The state legislature appropriates funds to build state roads to Indianapolis, while the Marion County government begins construction of county roads. The first session of the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court in Marion County is held in a local resident's log home.Brown, p. 8–10. A militia is organized in central Indiana. The town's first jail is built.Hyman, The Journal Handbook of Indianapolis, p. 80. Methodists organize their first Indianapolis congregation. They meet for worship services in a log structure until their new church is erected in 1829. Wesley Chapel is built in 1846. The congregation's Meridian Street Methodist Episcopal Church, dedicated in 1871, is destroyed by fire in 1904; its replacement is built at Meridian and Saint Clair streets.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 86, 593–94; Sulgrove, p. 52, 399, and 402; and Brown, p. 14. The congregation merges with the Fifty-first Street Methodist Church in 1945, and the combined congregation erects Meridian Street Methodist Church, which opens in 1952. Baptists organize the city's first Baptist congregation on October 10. The group first meets in a log schoolhouse. The First Baptist Church is completed in 1831.Holloway, p. 216–17. Two replacement churches are destroyed by fire, one in 1861 and the other in 1904. Their replacement, built at Meridian and Vermont streets, is dedicated in 1906;Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 86, 567 and 571; Brown, p. 82; Esarey, v. III, p. 154; and Sulgrove, p. 389–91. it is vacated in 1960 and a new church is constructed at North College Avenue and 86th Street. 1823 The Western Censor and Emigrant's Guide begins publication. Its name is changed to the Indiana Journal in 1825. It becomes a permanent daily newspaper and is renamed the Indianapolis Daily Journal in 1854. The Journal merges with The Indianapolis Star on June 8, 1904.Esarey, p. 129, and Bodenhamer and Barrows, eds., p. 741 The Indiana Central Medical Society is formed to license physicians to practice medicine.Sulgrove, p. 53.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 545. The town's first theatrical performance takes place at a local tavern. Presbyterians establish Indianapolis's First Presbyterian Church congregation on July 23. Its first church is completed in 1824. The congregation merges with the Meridian Highlands Presbyterian Church in 1970, establishing the First-Meridian Highland Church congregation.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 90–91, 575, and 580. The Indianapolis Sabbath School Union is established.Sulgrove, p. 394. 1824 Marion County courthouse is completed; it also houses the Indiana General Assembly until a new Indiana Statehouse is completed in 1835.Howard, p. 26. The town's first training school for militia officers and soldiers is established.Brown, p. 13. A series of severe spring storms flood waterways and set high water marks for Indianapolis.Brown, p. 19. 1825 Indiana's state government relocates to Indianapolis from Corydon, Indiana, effective January 1. A U.S. District Court is established in the city; Benjamin Parke is its presiding judge.Holloway, p. 263, and Bodenhamer and Barrows, eds., p. 967. Indiana State Library is established. Indianapolis Journal newspaper begins publication. The first Marion County courthouse is completed in January.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 62. The first session of the state legislature in Indianapolis begins in January at the newly completed county courthouse. The Indiana State Library is founded. The Marion County Agricultural Society is organized.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 96. 1826 The Indianapolis Fire Company, the town's first volunteer fire company, is organized in June.Historical Committee, Indiana Centennial Celebration Committee, p. 39. The town's first rifle and artillery companies are formed.Brown, p. 16. 1827 A governor's mansion is erected on Governor's Circle. The residence is sold in 1857 and demolished.Sulgrove, p. 26.Hale, p. 14–15 1828 The town's first cavalry company is organized.Brown, p. 20 The Indianapolis Steam Mill Company, the town's first incorporated business, builds a new mill along the White River. The mill is completed in 1831, but it proves unprofitable and closes in 1835.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 48. The Marion County Temperance Society is formed.Hale, p. 16. 1829 Indiana Colonization Society is formed. 1830 – Indiana population estimate: 1,900.Bodenhamer and Barrows, p. 1480. Indiana Historical Society is organized on December 11. Benjamin Parke serves as its first president.Brown, p. 23.Bodenhamer and Barrows, p. 739. The Indiana Democrat begins publication and consolidates operations with the Gazette. The Democrat becomes the Indiana State Sentinel in 1841. The Sentinel becomes the town's first permanent daily newspaper in 1851; it is discontinued in 1906. The Indianapolis Female School, the town's first school for young women, opens in March.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 121. 1831 Town officials appoint Indianapolis's first board of health when the town experiences its first case of smallpox. The steamboat Robert Hanna arrives in town on April 11. After it departs from Indianapolis the boat runs aground along the White River; no steamboat successfully returns to the capital city. 1832 The town is incorporated and local government is placed under the direction of five elected trustees. The first election for town officials is held in September. Samuel Henderson serves as first president of the town's board of trustees.Esarey, p. 201. The state legislature authorizes the establishment of the Marion County Seminary, which opens in 1834.Esarey, p. 45 and 47.Hyman, The Journal Handbook of Indianapolis, p. 22. The town's first foundry is established; it begins operations in 1833.Brown, p. 27. 1833 The town's first market house is built. The structure becomes known as the Indianapolis City Market.Sulgrove, p. 110. The town's first Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) congregation is organized. Its first church building is erected in 1837. Christian Chapel, completed in 1852, is renamed Central Christian Church in 1879. The congregation dedicates a new church at Delaware and Walnut Street in 1893. 1834 The town's first brewery is established.Brown, p. 31. The State Bank of Indiana is chartered and establishes its main office and one of its first sixteen branch locations in Indianapolis. Union Cemetery is established.Brown, p. 45; Sulgrove, p. 385; and Holloway, p. 261. After additional acreage is acquired, the cemetery becomes known as Greenlawn Cemetery in 1862. 1835 Construction of a Greek Revival-style Indiana Statehouse is completed. The Indiana State Board of Agriculture is established in February.Esarey, p. 194. The Marion County Board of Agriculture is formed in June. The first Marion County fair is held on October 30–31. The Indianapolis Benevolent Society is established in November.Hale, p. 16 and 41. The town purchases its first hand engine for its volunteer firefighters.Sulgrove, p. 117. The Young Men's Literary Society is established; it is incorporated as the Union Literary Society in 1847.Brown, p. 34; Sulgrove, p. 106; and Bodenhamer and Barrows, eds., p. 921. 1836 The Indiana General Assembly appropriates funds to begin construction on the Indiana Central Canal and build rail lines from Madison to Lafayette through Indianapolis as part of the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act.Hale, p. 21. Indianapolis is incorporated with a revised charter.Esarey, p. 61. The city's first insurance company is organized on March 15.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 360. Four constables are sworn in to enforce town ordinances.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 115–16. The city's oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church congregation is organized. In 1869 the congregation adopts the name Bethel A.M.E. Church.Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, p. 603. 1837 The National Road arrives in Indianapolis.Baer, p. 11. Indianapolis Female Institute opens. Marion Guards become Indianapolis's first militia company.Sulgrove, p. 120. The town erects a new firehouse on the north side of the Circle. The First English Lutheran Church congregation (also known as Mount Pisgah Evangelical Lutheran Church) is organized. Its first church is erected in 1838.Holloway, p. 243. Holy Cross, the city's oldest Catholic parish, is formed in November. The Chapel of the Holy Cross, the parish's first church, is completed in 1840. Its second church, completed in 1850, is named Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church. It is replaced with Saint John's Cathedral in 1871. The town's Episcopal congregation organizes and begins construction of its first Christ Church on the Circle. Christ Church Cathedral, completed in 1859, replaces the earlier church and is built on the same site.Brown, p. 40. 1838 Indianapolis reincorporates with a new charter and a new town council formation.Historical Committee, Indiana Centennial Celebration Committee, p. 30. The city's Second Presbyterian Church congregation organizes on November 19. Its first church building is dedicated in 1840. 1839 The state's bankruptcy halts Central Canal construction after are opened for traffic. The Indiana General Assembly appropriates funds to purchase a home at Illinois and Meridian streets to serve as the official governor's residence. It is sold in 1865 and later demolished.Hyman, The Journal Handbook of Indianapolis, p. 19. 1840 – Indianapolis population: 2,692. 1841