| c. 20,000 BC |
Prehistoric big-game hunters (Early Man) use the valley of the South Platte River for hunting and camping. |
| c. 7000 BC |
Prehistoric hunters at the Lamb Springs site, 2 miles SW of Littleton. |
| c. 4000 BC |
Altithermal Period: Climate changes to hot and dry, pushing prehistoric hunters off the plains. |
| c. 2500 BC |
Milder climate returns and nomadic Native American hunters and foragers reside and roam within the South Platte Valley. |
| 1720 |
Spanish military expedition of Pedro De Villasur reaches the "Rio Jesus Maria", as they call the South Platte River. |
| 1763 |
Early French claims to the Platte River drainage ended; Spanish claims reasserted. |
| c. 1770 |
Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes migrate into the region, coming from the Dakotas and Minnesota. |
| 1800 |
Spain gives its land claims to France. |
| 1803 |
President Thomas Jefferson buys land from France in the transaction known as the "Louisiana Purchase." |
| c. 1810 |
Fur trappers and traders enter the region, occasionally camping nearby. |
| c. 1815 |
Trappers' rendezvous held north of the area, near Bear Creek. |
| 1820 |
Expedition commanded by Major Stephen H. Long exploring the South Platte River pass the future site of Littleton. |
| 1858 |
Gold is discovered in the sands of Little Dry Creek, four miles north of the area. |
| 1859 |
The "Pikes Peak" gold rush begins, centering on the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platter River; Denver City is founded; Capital Hydraulic Company is organized to dig the "City Ditch" to supply water to Denver and surrounding areas. |
| 1860 |
Richard Sullivan Little, an engineer from Grafton, NH, arrives in Colorado Territory. |
| 1861 |
Richard Little becomes chief engineer for the Capital Hydraulic Company and begins construction of an irrigation ditch drawing water from the South Platte River near present-day Littleton. |
| 1862 |
Richard Little files for a homestead and makes other land claims; Dozens of other farms and ranches established all along the South Platte Valley. |
| 1864 |
A school is established in Richard Little's cabin, the precursor of School District No. 6. |
| 1867 |
Several neighbors join with Richard Little to build the Rough and Ready Flour Mill on his property to process the abundant grain being grown in the area; it is an immediate success selling to the Denver area market and as far away as Boston. |
| 1869 |
U.S. Post Office designated at Littleton, with Richard Little as the first Postmaster. |
| 1871 |
Tracks of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad reach area around Richard Little's farm; St. Paul's Episcopal Church is consecrated. |
| 1872 |
Rough and Ready Flour Mill is destroyed by fire and quickly rebuilt; Richard Little subdivides his property and files a plat for the village of Littleton. |
| 1873 |
Brick school house built near Rapp Street; Denver and Rio Grande depot built. |
| 1874 |
Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad (also called the Colorado and Southern) tracks laid west of the South Platte River; Second fire destroys the flour mill and it is again quickly rebuilt, this time of stone and brick. |
| 1876 |
Colorado becomes the 36th state in the Union during the nation's centennial. |
| 1879 |
Construction begins on the Highline Canal to supply water to Littleton and points north and east. It is completed in 1883. |
| 1883 |
First Presbyterian Church is organized. |
| 1887 |
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad extends its line to Littleton, building a depot in 1888. |
| 1888 |
Littleton Independent (originally called the Littleton Gazette) founded. |
| 1890 |
Town of Littleton incorporated with a population of 245; John G. Lilley Hook and Ladder Company organized as Littleton's volunteer fire department; Methodist Church organized. |
| 1900 |
Population of Littleton is 738 at the turn of the century. |
| 1901 |
St. Mary's Catholic Church is built. |
| 1902 |
Arapahoe County is subdivided by the state legislature into South Arapahoe ("south" is soon dropped), Denver, Adams, Washington and Yuma Counties; Littleton is named temporary county seat. |
| 1903 |
Electricity switched on for Littleton residents. |
| 1904 |
Littleton defeats Englewood, 1,310 votes to 829, in the election to determine the permanent Arapahoe County seat. |
| 1907 |
Electric trolley car line extended into Littleton; construction begins on the county courthouse (completed in 1908). |
| 1910 |
Census has Littleton's population at 1,373. |
| 1915 |
Old Harwood Inn, longtime Littleton landmark which had been renamed the Sunshine and Shadow Inn, is destroyed by fire. |
| 1917 |
Carnegie Foundation-funded library built at the west end of Main Street; America enters the "Great War" (World War I, ending in 1918). |
| 1920 |
High school built on Grant Street; Town Hall built on Main Street; population reaches 1,636. |
| 1926 |
Buses replace Littleton's street car line. |
| 1929 |
Boosters advertise Littleton as the "Center of the State's Poultry Industry." |
| 1930 |
J.B. Benedict-designed Presbyterian Church completed; census counts 2,019 residents. |
| 1933 |
First National Bank fails. |
| 1935 |
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) establishes a supply center and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) initiates numerous city improvement projects. |
| 1938 |
U.S. Highway 85 is rerouted west of downtown, along present-day Santa Fe Drive. |
| 1940 |
Littleton's population put at 2,244. |
| 1941 |
America enters World War II (ending in 1945). |
| 1942 |
Heckethorn Manufacturing Company, making projectiles for the Navy, becomes Littleton's largest employer (with 700 employed in 1944). |
| 1950 |
C.A. Norgren Company moves to Littleton; Centennial Race Track opens; population reaches 3,370. |
| 1952 |
Brookridge Heights and Malo Farm (Broadmoor) developments begin. |
| 1955 |
Glenn L. Martin Company announces plans to build a major defense plant southwest of Littleton. |
| 1959 |
Home Rule Charter/City Manager Plan accepted by voters; South Suburban Parks and Recreation District created; Rough and Ready Flour Mill destroyed by fire for the last time. |
| 1960 |
Professional fire department replaces volunteers; street names and numbers changed to conform with Denver Metro area; population has swollen to 13,670. |
| 1965 |
Voters approve college district formation; the great South Platte River flood triggers renewed interest in the long-debated Chatfield Dam; Bemis Public Library opens. |
| 1970 |
Littleton Historical Museum opens; Population reaches 26,466. |
| 1972 |
Chatfield Dam reservoir begins collecting water. |
| 1975 |
After a major beautification program and adoption of a controversial sign code, Littleton named as one of "America's fifteen best suburbs" by Ladies Home Journal. |
| 1976 |
AT&SF railroad depot restored for Depot Art Center. |
| 1980 |
Population has grown to 28,631 residents. |
| 1984 |
Centennial Race Track closes to make way for one of many new major developments. |
| 1990 |
Littleton marks its centennial; Arapahoe Community College celebrates 25th anniversary; population at 33,661. |
| 1997 |
Ground is broken for construction of the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Line which will link Littleton with Denver. |
| 1999 |
The city's official government Web site, www.littletongov.org is launched. |
| 2000 |
Former Arapahoe County Courthouse is renovated and and dedicated as the new Littleton Municipal Courthouse; RTD opens the new Southwest Corridor Light Rail Line; Littleton World War II Memorial is dedicated in Ketring Park on Veteran's Day
|
| 2001 |
Population of Littleton reaches 43,580. |
| 2002 |
The Olympic Torch is carried through Littleton on its way to the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. |
| 2003 |
A "100-year blizzard" dumps over three feet of snow in Littleton in March; construction begins on the new Littleton Historical Museum building. |
| 2004 |
The new Littleton Fire Rescue station #12 is dedicated; construction begins on the new Littleton recreation center. |
Hicks, Dave. Littleton From the Beginning. Denver: Egan Printing , 1975.
Littleton Historical Museum. Photographic Archives.
McQuarie, Robert J. and C.W. Buchholtz. Littleton, Colorado: Settlement to Centennial. Littleton: Littleton Historical Museum and Friends of the Library and Museum, 1990.
